Glasgow Rangers vs Brechin City preview - McCoist backs five-year plan

Rangers boss Ally McCoist has backed Graham Wallace's claim that it might take the Ibrox outfit another five years to start challenging Celtic's dominance of the Scottish game.

On Thursday, Gers chief executive Wallace told delegates from the club's three main fan groups - the Rangers Supporters Assembly, the Rangers Supporters Trust and the Rangers Supporters Association - that he wants to draw up a five-year plan aimed at reining in the Hoops as well as targeting a return to European action.

The former Manchester City chief operating officer's comments come just two weeks after the Light Blues squad knocked back his suggestion of a 15 per cent pay cut.

That sparked fears of an Ibrox fire sale but former oldco director Dave King has urged the club - understood to be losing around £1million a month - to find new investment now so McCoist's side can launch an immediate fight for the title as soon as they return to the Scottish Premiership.

The manager, however, has given his approval to the Wallace timetable, saying: "I would have thought that was about fair, yeah. I would agree with Graham there.

"He has been completely honest with everybody and if he said a five-year plan has been put in operation then I think we should respect that."

And McCoist - whose side take on Brechin at Ibrox on Saturday looking to consolidate their 23-point lead at the top of League One - claims his side may even struggle to gain promotion back to the top-flight at the first attempt.

"I don't have us down as any guarantees to be back in the Premiership next year, assuming we win promotion this year," he said.

"Hearts are a good side and if we look at the top of the Championship now, there are Dundee, Falkirk and Hamilton doing very well.

"So if we are lucky enough to go up this year, there are no guarantees - absolutely no guarantees - that we will do the same next season. We will just have to take it one step at a time."

Lewis Macleod will miss Rangers' clash with Brechin after being set for tests on a troublesome calf strain.

The muscle injury has inhibited the midfielder for the past few weeks and McCoist has sent the 19-year-old to see a specialist in a bid to solve the problem.

However, Nicky Clark (foot), Chris Hegarty (ankle), Kyle Hutton (broken leg) and Ross Perry (ankle) all remain on the sidelines with long-term issues.

Brechin include new signing Robert Thomson in the squad that travels to Glasgow as they look to become the first side this season to defeat Rangers in the league.

Alan Trouten, who scored and was later sent off when the Ibrox side won 4-3 at Glebe Park back in October, misses out with a hamstring problem while Bobby Barr is required to pass a fitness test before he can be included.

Manager Ray McKinnon said: "We are going there in good spirits after coming from two goals down to defeat Dunfermline. However, we are not kidding ourselves on.

"Rangers have been formidable, especially at home, but we will give it our best shot."