German football legend Christoph Daum has opened up on his financial miscalculation of epic proportions that halted a stunning Rangers transfer exit for Ally McCoist .
The Ibrox goal hero is revered in Govan but the charismatic ex-boss claims Cologne were on the verge of landing the striker back in 1988.
Only for Daum to make a signing blunder for the ages and allowed McCoist to become the club's to become the Light Blues top scorer of all time.
The manager moved quickly to try and entice the Scotland international to Germany after being impressed with 'Super' after the Bundesliga side had defeated Rangers in that season's UEFA Cup.
And Daum claims only his financial own goal killed the deal after holding talks with David Murray and Graeme Souness .
The 66-year-old, speaking to the Daily Mail, said: "For me, Ally McCoist was a top goalscorer and I really wanted to transfer him to Cologne.
"So I spoke first with Graeme and told him I wanted to have this great player.
"He said to me that they could transfer him to Cologne for 'three million'.
"At the time that was a huge amount but I said I will discuss it with my board.
"They said to me: 'Yes, it's a big amount but if you think he is the one you need in the team, then we will do it.
"I went back to Graeme and he said that he'd spoken to to David Murray and they were okay to do it.
"I prepared my paper for the offer and wrote the offer and signed for three million Deutsche Marks. That figure had been in my head all the time.
"But David Murray came back and said there was a big misunderstanding. They were were expecting £3m so three million Deutsche marks was about a third of what Rangers wanted.
"That would have been the most expensive transfer of the time, nearly nine million Deutsche Marks! It was more than the whole budget for the team.
"I went back to my board. Not surprisingly, they told me the next time, before I come to them, I had to figure out the exact same amount and shouldn't make the same mistake again."
