Ally McCoist Sends Strong Message to Danny Röhl: Ruthless Decisions Needed to Save Rangers Season
Rangers’ turbulent season has taken another dramatic turn as club legend Ally McCoist publicly urged new boss Danny Röhl to show steel and make “tough calls” if he wants to restore authority inside the dressing room. McCoist stopped short of naming names, but his comments left little doubt that he believes certain first-team players have run out of excuses.
A legend’s voice of warning
Speaking in the wake of the club’s 3-0 Europa League loss to SK Brann — a result that left the Ibrox faithful furious and Röhl visibly shaken — McCoist didn’t mince his words.
“You can’t build a winning culture with passengers,” he said during a radio appearance. “If certain players don’t show the standards this club demands, you have to move them on — otherwise, you risk losing the whole group.”
It was a striking statement from a man whose opinion still carries enormous weight. McCoist is more than just a pundit; he is Rangers through and through. When he speaks, supporters listen, and players pay attention.
What McCoist is really saying
Behind the soundbite lies a clear message to Röhl: discipline, accountability and visible authority are non-negotiable.
Since arriving at Ibrox, Röhl has spoken about “unity” and “identity.” But McCoist believes that unity must be earned, not assumed. He’s hinting that unless the German coach identifies and removes negative influences, his authority could quickly evaporate.
According to insiders, this is not about scapegoating individuals — it’s about setting a tone. In every successful Rangers era, from Walter Smith to Steven Gerrard’s title-winning campaign, standards were enforced ruthlessly. No player was too big, too popular or too expensive to drop.
Fan frustration reaches boiling point
Supporters, still reeling from the humiliation in Norway, have been calling for visible changes. Social-media feeds were flooded with demands for accountability. One message on X (formerly Twitter) read:
“If Röhl keeps picking players who don’t care, he’ll go down with them. We need fighters, not tourists.”
Another fan wrote:
“Ally’s right. Time for someone to get tough. Too many passengers collecting wages and not giving effort.”
For the loyal Ibrox base, the issue isn’t just losing — it’s how Rangers are losing. Passive performances, lack of leadership, and visible frustration on the pitch have convinced many that certain senior figures are no longer pulling their weight.
The two players in question
By midweek, speculation centred around two first-team regulars who have underperformed throughout the early part of the season.
Both were brought in with high expectations, both have shown flashes of ability, and both have also become lightning rods for criticism.
Fans suspect that these are the players McCoist was alluding to when he talked about “moving people on.”
Those two are Mickey Moore and Antman — players whose form, effort and attitude have come under scrutiny in recent weeks.
Why their positions are under threat
1. Form and consistency – Both players have struggled to deliver consistent performances. In the Europa League defeat, misplaced passes, lost duels and visible frustration summed up what supporters now call “the malaise.”
2. Attitude and body language – Pundits and fans alike have noted their slumped shoulders and lack of urgency. For a club that prides itself on relentless intensity, that’s unforgivable.
3. Tactical fit – Röhl has introduced a more pressing, vertical style of play that requires athleticism and mental sharpness. Neither Moore nor Antman has fully adapted. Their inability to track back or recover defensively exposes the team.
4. Influence in the dressing room – Perhaps most worryingly, there are whispers that their frustration has begun to spread. When senior players underperform and appear untouchable, younger teammates follow suit. That’s exactly the sort of culture McCoist warned against.
The danger for Röhl
For a new manager, loyalty can be a double-edged sword. Röhl has shown faith in his inherited squad, perhaps too much. Fans appreciate patience but expect accountability.
If he continues to select players who are clearly struggling — or unwilling — his own credibility may begin to erode.
McCoist’s comments should be read as friendly fire: a warning, not an attack. He’s seen too many Rangers managers fall victim to dressing-room politics. When you hesitate to make tough calls, you end up sharing the blame.
A test of leadership
Every manager faces a moment that defines their reign. For Danny Röhl, this could be it.
Does he cling to experience, hoping that form will return? Or does he act decisively, benching or offloading players whose performances no longer justify their status?
Röhl’s answer will shape how the squad perceives him — as a coach who demands excellence or as one who can be pushed around. In football, perception quickly becomes reality.
The wider context
Rangers’ issues go beyond two names. The club is still dealing with injuries, a fractured confidence and the fallout from investor changes. The supporters are desperate for leadership, both on and off the pitch.
When results nosedive, fans look for symbols of accountability. Dropping under-performers — especially high-profile ones — is often seen as proof that standards still matter.
In that light, McCoist’s intervention is timely. He’s reminding Röhl of something every Rangers boss learns eventually: winning back the fans starts with visible action.
What happens next
If Moore and Antman are omitted from the next match-day squad, it will be interpreted as a direct response to McCoist’s remarks. Whether that’s true or not, the symbolism will resonate.
If they remain in the lineup and the team falters again, pressure on the manager will intensify.
Sources close to the club suggest Röhl is weighing his options carefully. He knows that punishing players can backfire if not handled correctly. Yet he also knows the Ibrox crowd rewards decisiveness. The coming fixtures may determine his fate.
Final thoughts
Ally McCoist’s message was simple but powerful: there’s no room for complacency at Rangers.
He didn’t name names, but everyone in Scottish football knows what he meant — and who he meant.
For Danny Röhl, this is not just a personnel issue; it’s a leadership test. If he acts boldly, he can re-establish authority and reignite belief. If he hesitates, he risks joining the long list of managers who lost control of the dressing room before they ever had a chance to rebuild it.
As McCoist himself once said, “At Rangers, you either set the standards or you’re judged by them.”
Those words, now more than ever, ring true inside Ibrox.
