Ally McCoist had two offices at Ibrox in his career with the Light Blues.
One was the 18-yard box, where he plundered so many of the goals that rocketed him into his folklore.
The other was at top of the marble staircase, where he sat wrestling with the financial meltdown that blighted his managerial career at the club.
The Rangers legend has got absolutely no doubt about which one was the easier workplace.
He said: “It’s far easier out there playing than it is sitting in the dugout managing, where you’ve got the worries and concerns of the 50,000 inside the stadium and the hundreds of thousands who support the club.
“So, it is easier in the 18-yard box than it is in the office, but at the same time it is, and was, the biggest privilege of my life in terms of business and working.
“Playing centre-forward for Rangers was my dream growing up but to sit up at the top of the marble staircase in the manager’s room was the greatest privilege.
“It was just the right job at the wrong time. That’s why it’s not a regret. You can only have a regret about something you can have an affect on.
“But there’s a bit of a masochist in me that means I was glad it was me because at least I knew the club and knew what it meant to the fans. That’s some solace.”
There’s even more consolation to be had for McCoist in the position that Rangers are currently enjoying.
Champions and a fourth straight Europa League adventure to look forward to, even if that one’s bittersweet, given his former club could have been looking at Champions League football.
And as he returned to his old stomping ground yesterday in his role as a talkSPORT pundit ahead of Rangers hosting Celtic on Sunday in front of 50,000 fans who were locked out last year due to the pandemic, the icon admitted he can’t wait.
He also insisted Steven Gerrard – whether in the dugout or isolating at home – will know his team has to get up and running again this season after a sloppy start that has seen them lose to Malmo in the Champions League qualifier and to Dundee United in the league.
McCoist said: “It was a wonderful achievement last year.
“They lost only four goals in the league at Ibrox, which is remarkable. They went through the league campaign undefeated.
“I bet it was beyond Steven’s wildest dreams the way the league campaign turned out.
“I interviewed him for TV at the end of the campaign and I said to him that no matter what else he does in his managerial career, he will never win anything that will mean so much to so many people.
“I stand by it – that’s how important that league campaign was to Rangers supporters throughout the world.
“He handles himself very well with the media. It was a big season for him last year. He was backed by the board and they got their just rewards.
“He got his team playing great football and they did well in Europe before they were well beaten by Slavia Prague.
“So last season they were really impressive but the next step is you have to do it again.
“It’s an easy thing to say but they have to get on and do it again and this is a big test this season.
“They have to do better in the cup competitions and hopefully will do. Effectively, there has to be improvement.
“I don’t think for a minute they’ll improve their league performances and campaign but the immediate target is to retain the title, have a continued run in the Europa League and win one of the cups as well.”
McCoist hopes a match of this magnitude will be the one to kickstart their campaign but he knows Celtic are a tougher proposition than last term.
He just wishes fans on both sides of the divide could be there to witness it.
He said: “Is it the best football on the planet? Clearly not.
“Is it the best atmosphere on the planet? Possibly.
“It is better when away fans can travel, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m really looking forward to it. It was great to have football back last year but the one thing clearly missing was the atmosphere in the stadiums – and this game in particular was the one I noticed it in more than anything.
“They should bang their two heads together and get it organised because there’s nothing like going to Celtic Park as a Rangers supporter and I’d imagine it’s the same for the Celtic boys coming here.
“It’s a shame. If you ask any Rangers or Celtic supporter, they want it changed because they want to travel to support their team and they are quite entitled to.
“The atmosphere will be fantastic on Sunday but it will be slightly different because it will be one-sided.”
And while McCoist would love the game to be one-sided in Rangers’ favour, he knows Celts will give them a much harder time than they did last term.
He added: “Celtic have certainly been scoring goals, offensively they look good.
“They had their problems last year. Edouard, who is a very good player, didn’t really perform to the level we know he can. They’ve brought in Kyogo, who’s scored seven in eight, and Abada, so they’ve got a bit about them going forward, that’s for sure.”
