I benched Rangers legend Ally McCoist and denied him final Ibrox bow in front of adoring fans – and I'd do it all again

Scottish Sun

5 days ago

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IT was written in the stars: a Rangers legend due to retire, with a chance to bow out in front of his adoring fans at a sold-out Ibrox. for what would be the last time ever.
But there was just one problem... his manager had no intention of playing him.
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Ally McCoist came out to warm up in his final match at Ibrox
Credit: PA:Press Association
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But he sat on the bench the whole game as Bobby Williamson didn't put him on
Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow
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Williamson has appeared on the Let Me Be Frank podcast talking about that day
Credit: LET ME BE FRANK
Ally McCoist had 15 glorious years at Rangers, fulfilling his boyhood dream of playing for the Light Blues.
When he left he signed for Ayrshire side Kilmarnock, continuing to play in the top flight of Scottish football for another three years.
But when it came to the end of the 2000-2001 season he was ready to call it a day.
McCoist had announced his plans to hang up his boots before the end of the campaign, so fans knew he was about to retire.
The Ibrox support that dubbed him Super Ally circled the date of May 12 as their chance to say goodbye, as Gers hosted Killie at Ibrox.
But for them, and for McCoist, the chance of a final farewell on the pitch was denied by Kilmarnock boss Bobby Williamson.
The former Killie and Hibs boss, most recently in charge of the Kenya national team, has opened up on his side of the story, 24 years on.
And he doubled down on his stance, insisting his reasons for not putting McCoist on were professional and out of respect for the Kilmarnock fans he was being judged by.
Rangers had steamed to a 5-1 lead and with time ticking away, the home fans began singing for McCoist to be brought on.
Williamson though, was having none of it.
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In an interview with the Let Me Be Frank podcast, he said: "It was a very unique occasion. I don't think it'd happened before and I don't think it'll happen again, where an opposition are singing for a player to come on.
"We were getting battered, Rangers played really well that day and we've not really performed.
"[The Rangers fans] started to chant McCoist's name. If they hadn't done that, I might've put him on.
"But because they were chanting, and I've got 200 Kilmanrock fans over there, who've paid good money to come up from Ayrshire, and I'm thinking if I put him on then I'm going to get dog's abuse for kowtowing to Rangers."
Williamson, who still lives in Kenya and played for Rangers between 183 and 1986, said he understood the fans' frustrations on the day.
He said: "I sympathised with the Rangers fans. I used to be one.
"I knew how they were feeling, they wanted to see Ally.
"But I said to myself, they'll have other occasions to do that. These Old Firm games, they'll see him again, and then he went back as a manager.
"But I would've got slaughtered off my own fans. I've got to think about them."
But one person who did annoy him was then-Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat.
The Dutch boss publicly called out Williamson after the match for not giving McCoist his swansong.
In the end McCoist did go out onto the field to rapturous applause, after he was gestured on after the full-time whistle had blown.
But Williamson argues that if Advocaat was in the same position, he'd have done the same.
And not only that but three years previously, it was Advocaat who let McCoist walk out the door at Ibrox.
He said: "I couldn't imagine him putting a player on if the opposition were shouting for that player to come on.
"And it's good coming from him, he released Ally!
"He wanted rid of him when he got there!"
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McCoist did eventually get hid emotional Ibrox send-off
Credit: PA:Press Association
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