McCall keen to stay on at Rangers

31 May 2015 07:32

Stuart McCall insists he is still the man to take Rangers forward despite watching the Ibrox side's promotion dream end in disgrace.

Gers will be locked out of the top flight for another 12 months after being hammered 6-1 on aggregate by Scottish Premiership play-off final opponents Motherwell.

Having lost the Ibrox first leg 3-1 on Thursday, Gers crumbled as they shipped another three goals to Ian Baraclough's men in the Lanarkshire return.

There was no shortage of drama too, with flares and a pitch invasion just minor indiscretions compared to an incredible brawl involving Gers defender Bilel Mohsni and Steelmen forward Lee Erwin after the final whistle.

But even that will not cover over a terrible result for McCall and his team as they face up to another season in the Championship.

The 50-year-old was brought in to re-energise a promotion bid that faltered under Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall.

But, despite guiding Rangers to the last day of the season, the interim boss has failed to end their three-year wilderness in the lower leagues.

However, asked if he had done enough to land the job permanently, McCall said: "That won't be for me to decide.

"It's for the club b ut I think my three biggest strengths as a manager are recruiting people, as I did here at Motherwell, getting the best out of people and improving people.

"That's certainly three things Rangers will need next season.

"Recruitment of players is going to be huge.

"Of course I want to carry on as manager. It has been an honour and privilege and I feel I can do the job."

One man who definitely will not be at Ibrox next season is Mohsni after his stunning moment of madness.

Well playmaker Erwin reacted with anger and pushed the Rangers defender when his offer of a handshake was refused by the Tunisian.

But Mohsni reacted with a flurry of kicks and punches as a wild brawl erupted.

Players from both sides rushed to the melee before calm was restored by the police and stewards. Referee Craig Thomson handed both Mohsni and Erwin post-match red cards, while unused Motherwell sub Fraser Kerr received the same punishment.

The trouble did not stop there, though, and Mohsni had to be restrained again after racing off the Rangers team bus to confront Erwin as the 21-year-old left the ground.

Police Scotland say they are now going to "conduct a full review of the circumstances" surrounding the unsavoury scenes.

But McCall said: "I know you're not going to believe me but, hand on heart, I've not seen it. I was down the tunnel and then heard the roar so came running back.

"If what you are telling me about the incident is true, then it's obviously unacceptable and totally disgraceful.

"No-one can condone that sort of behaviour. Bilel's contract is up, but that's totally unacceptable.

"I don't know if the club can take any action against him but I don't think there is any doubt he won't be at the football club next season."

Rangers' two-legged battle with Well only highlighted the frailties of the second-most expensively assembled team in Scotland.

And with 10 players currently out of contract, McCall admits the rebuilding job will need to be extensive.

"I think sometimes it can be a good thing to bring eight or nine of your own players in," he said. "I think people can remember me here at Motherwell when we finished second and lost seven first-team players.

"The year after that we finished with 70 points and finished second.

"We have 10 out of contract, maybe one or two will get new ones, and there is a big rebuilding job to be done - there is no doubt about that. It's a good opportunity for whoever comes in. He can remould the group and get the spirit in that he wants it to be.

"They need to get a desire and togetherness back at the club.

"We might not have been great all season - we may have had flaws since I have come in, especially defensively - but they managed to galvanise themselves and get to a stage where many people didn't think we would get to.

"But at the end we have fallen short."

Source: PA