Butland's Rangers future isn't priority as McCoist picks out new boss' first job (2025)

The Ibrox shotstopper has come under fire in the wake of an error-prone campaign

There's a long pause as Ally McCoist ponders the question every Rangers fan has been asking.

Should Barry Ferguson stick or twist with calamitous No1 Jack Butland? McCoist is torn.

On the one hand, McCoist accepts the former England goalkeeper is hurting the team with his constant errors.

On the other, the Ibrox legend fears there would be no way back for last season's hero if he was to be dropped for Liam Kelly.

After a stunning debut year in Scotland, Butland has become a liability between the sticks at a time when Gers are already at their most vulnerable.

Blunders against Manchester United, Motherwell and Dundee have cost the Light Blues dearly this season.

And his latest gaffe in the weekend's 2-0 defeat to Hibs appears to be the final straw for a section of fans who have run out of patience with the 32-year-old.

Fuming interim boss Ferguson warned Butland that his place isn't safe for Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao.

But McCoist believes Butland's Rangers career would be OVER if he were to be axed for one of the biggest nights of the campaign.

In an exclusive interview with Record Sport , courtesy of talkSPORT BET, McCoist thought deeply about Butland's situation as he said: "It's a tough one. It looks as though his confidence is shot to pieces at this moment in time.

"This is a real balancing act because if you take him out of the team, you could finish him. But equally, if you leave him in the team and he continues to make mistakes, not only are you damaging him, but you are also damaging the team and the results.

"This is a really, really difficult situation. Again, Barry will have to sit down and have a chat with him. He's made a good few uncharacteristic mistakes that have cost goals, of that there is no doubt. But it's a gamble. If you leave him out, you could finish him. I'm actually not sure you do that.

"Not being privy to sitting down and having a chat with him and seeing where he is, that would have a massive bearing on playing him or not. You need to see where his head is, see how he's feeling, and then you make a decision."

As for the bigger picture, McCoist insists Rangers have more immediate areas of the team to address before bringing in a new No1 in the summer.

He said: "I'll be honest with you, I'm not sure that is a priority position... I'm contradicting myself. The goalkeeper IS a priority position because it's one of the most important positions on the pitch, if not THE most important. But you understand the point I'm trying to make... I'm not sure that is Rangers' priority right now.

"I still think there are positions you need to strengthen. Centre-back, centre-forward and probably another midfield player as well, for example. I just think they are bigger priorities."

There's a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the future of captain James Tavernier, too. Now in his testimonial season, the loyal right-back has just 12 months left to run on his current contract.

Tavernier has outlasted six permanent Rangers managers during his ten years in Glasgow and with another new man set to be appointed in the summer, McCoist is adamant the 33-year-old still has a major role to play.

He said: "Listen, Tavernier has been brilliant for Rangers. One or two people - including myself - have had a wee pop at some of the defensive stuff. That's by the by because he's been a fabulous servant to Rangers.

"His figures in forward areas are nothing short of remarkable. Whoever the new manager is, the first thing they've got to do is sit down with him and see what he wants to do.

"Who have we got that can play right-back? You've got to weigh up all these options as well. But first of all, you need to find out what he wants to do.

"If he wants to sign another contract, then there's a discussion to be had. But if he decides he's had enough and wants to try something else towards the end of his career, then that will be his priority and will be up to him to do that. I'd keep him, absolutely."

With the San Francisco 49ers ownership group set to sweep into power at Ibrox, some have predicted the biggest squad overhaul the club has ever seen. McCoist, though, isn't so sure.

He added: "It's been poor domestically. It's all very well saying it could be a clearout - that ain't happening. There will be changes, but there won't be as many changes as people think.

"Players are under contract, players don't necessarily need to move. You might want to bring players in but can't move players on. In that respect, it will not be a dramatic overhaul.

"Of course, there will be changes - and there NEEDS to be changes. You can't say you are going to make six or seven changes in your first-team, that's not how it operates.

"Sometimes you have to let players go that actually, you'd rather other players went before them. That's just the nature of the beast. You need to sit and evaluate your squad and you need to look at positions that you can strengthen.

"By the way, we don't even know who the manager will be yet. He'll come in, have fresh ideas, look at the squad and decide what he wants to do. It's not just as easy to have a dramatic overhaul as a lot of people think, although there are definitely changes required."

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