McCoist dedicates triumph to the ‘magnificent’ fans

ALLY McCOIST last night dedicated Rangers’ Old Firm triumph to the fans he feels have been traumatised by the club’s slide into administration.

The Ibrox boss insisted yesterday’s thrilling 3-2 victory was all about the supporters rather than stopping Celtic winning the championship.

Victory for Celtic would have seen them crowned champions but Neil Lennon’s men blew the chance to secure the SPL title in their bitter rivals’ own backyard.

Rangers were worthy winners on a day when Carlos Bocanegra and Celtic duo Cha Du Ri and Victor Wanyama saw red.

McCoist said: “You won’t believe me but I didn’t want to win the game to stop Celtic winning the title. I’m not interested in that to be honest.

“I wanted to win the game because you are playing your biggest rivals in one of the biggest fixtures of your season.

“The fans were great and that’s what we wanted more than anything, to give them something to cheer about.

“In current times and this struggle, we all feel our support has been absolutely magnificent. It’s a traumatic and difficult time but we really wanted to win it for them.

“Make no mistake about it, it wasn’t about stopping Celtic doing this, that or the next thing. We wanted to win the game for ourselves and indeed the support who deserve it.”

The Ibrox boss is hoping Rangers’ incredible display in the face of adversity will help the club in the search for a new owner.

He said: “I would really hope a day like this would encourage any would-be buyers.

“Regardless of the result, the welfare of the club is the most important thing. By a country mile.

“If there were any potential buyers watching it would be difficult to argue against the fact they’d be impressed with what they saw.”