Rangers manager Ally McCoist has offered his resignation to the Rangers board. STV reports that he offered to quit today after a terrible run of results in which Rangers fans have got on his back and the team have slipped behind the league leaders.
However, he will remain manager's chair for tonight's game against Queen of the South. And until told otherwise by the board.
The whole thing may lead to a rather unique situation in football terms.
A manager offering his resignation after a run of disappointing results. And the board refusing to accept this resignation and forcing him to continue. The manager - whose loyalty to the club is so ingrained - will dutifully accept this edict.
McCoist agreed to a 50% pay cut late last year, though he still earns a nice sum, £400,000 a year. The club may not be able to honour his 12 month contract while having to pay another manager.
Rangers are currently nine points behind Hearts in the SPFL Championship. McCoist picked the worst possible time to take over the main job at Ibrox. All looked to be going well on the pitch during the first half of the 2011-12 season, however Rangers financial troubles overwhelmed them early in 2012 and they were forced to enter administration, essentially conceding the title to Celtic.
In the subsequent two seasons, McCoist guided to team to promotion from the fourth and then third tiers. They won both leagues by a country mile. However, he was in a no-win situation. The football was unimpressive and the inevitable victories could not obliterate the sourness of the spectacle. Fans grumbled incessantly about pedestrian, unconvincing wins over often amateur opposition.
This year, Hearts have shown them a clean pair of heels in the race for the Scottish Championship.
Two months ago, Scottish Daily Herald football writer Graham Spiers summed up the feelings of many towards McCoist.
It was McCoist who made the phrase "we don't do walking away" famous in the context of Rangers. But, would he walk away himself, if he believed he was hurting Rangers? People say this is a naïve view, but I firmly believe McCoist cares deeply for his club.
He is a very engaging and likeable character. He is also a Rangers legend. He just isn't a football manager.
