Alex McLeish told the Ibrox directors that Sevco must win next season’s SPFL title ‘by hook or by crook’.
The former Scotland boss certainly knows how to win trophies by crook.
During his time in charge at Ibrox from 2001 to 2006 his team was rammed with players paid by EBT with those details held back from the SFA and SPL by Andrew Dickson and Campbell Ogilvie.
When he took over from Dick Advocaat McLeish got to work with Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer who were recruited from Barcelona and Chelsea by the Discount Option Scheme.
The club finally admitted that that tax scam was illegal and went into liquidation owing £2.8m plus penalties and interest.
No enquiry or action has been taken against the club that enjoyed a tax advantage over every other club, if 3-0 defeats were awarded Celtic would be celebrating their 17th successive Scottish title.
Revealing the fear that is gripping Ibrox McLeish told the Daily Record: “It’s not 10 in a row they’ve got to be worried about, it’s next year and stopping seven in a row. That’s got to be the immediate goal. It’s not as if I’m saying I’m not bothered about 10 in a row – they’ve got to stop the next one.
“That’s what I said when I sat down with them. I said ‘listen, somehow you have to win the title next year by hook or by crook’. Never mind trying to get closer to them.
“It’s just the way Rangers and Celtic are. I think the Rangers directors knew what I was talking about, that band of clubs who have to win every game they can. Somehow, they have to win it next year.
“It is a runaway train, but whatever Rangers do, they don’t just have to try and get closer, they have to try and win it.”
McLeish received £1.7m of EBT payments for his five years managing Rangers (IL).
CLICK HERE for the BBC list of EBT payments