Ally McCoist has given under fire Sevco boss Mark Warburton his full backing.
The former city trader has found himself in the firing line with his side well off the pace in the SPFL, dumped out of the Betfred Cup and having to justify a disastrous summer spending spree.
Anything less than full points from the home matches against St Johnstone tonight or against Kilmarnock on Saturday will crank up the pressure on the former Brentford boss.
McCoist had the relatively straightforward task of trampling over part-time opponents in the lower divisions but felt the pressure as Sevco crashed to up defeats from Queen of the South, Raith Rovers and Alloa.
Throwing away a 2-0 lead at Alloa to crash out of the Challenge Cup and floundering behind Hearts in The Championship proved too much for McCoist who triggered a 12 month notice period on his contract in December 2014.
Looking at the position Warbo is in the former Ibrox boss admitted: “It’s not a major shock to me seeing Rangers sit where they are at the moment. That’s what I expected unless they went out and spent a lot of money.
“Walter Smith used to say in my defence that I didn’t get the opportunity that most Rangers managers get to spend money to bring in top-quality players. I get that but you’ve got to give Mark a chance to do that. Why not? You are not going to change the manager, surely.
“There’s no point in changing things. He has to be given a chance. He had a good season last year and won a league that was competitive. It probably wasn’t as competitive as it had been the year before but Rangers won it comfortably and in style.”
With Joey Barton suspended and Niko Kranjcar crocked attention has turned to Warburton’s signings in anticipation of pushing for the SPFL title.
Joe Garner cost a club record £1.8m when he was signed from Preston with questions being asked about a striker that can’t force his way past Kenny Miller into the starting XI.
McCoist added: “I get the point about Garner costing £1.8m and what makes matters worse is you look over the road and see Celtic have a very good striker with enormous potential.
“You are judged on your signings but generally speaking they can be hit or miss but if there is to be investment in the playing side Mark has got to be given a chance.”