Scottish League 1 Rangers Manager Ally McCoist "has defended his side’s pre-match preparations in the wake of accusations that the club is still living beyond its means," according to the SCOTSMAN. The squad was "booked into the four-star Carnoustie Hotel prior to their match with Forfar at Station Park" Monday. Rangers won the match 2-0, but afterwards "it was put to McCoist that his players" -- who recently rejected proposals to cut their wages by 15% -- "were living the high life after staying at the luxury resort." McCoist "was adamant that he was simply trying to prepare his squad in the best way possible," and suggested it would have been "disrespectful" to Forfar not to have prepared in such a way (SCOTSMAN, 1/21). In Glasgow, Michael Gannon wrote McCoist is "bracing himself for budget cuts." Rangers CEO Graham Wallace was "standing firm on the pre-game plans." McCoist: "We are still Rangers Football Club and have always attempted to be as professional as we can. That will never change as long as I'm manager." McCoist admitted that "he will hold further meetings" with Wallace to discover what this exact plans are in terms of cuts. McCoist: "We have one pencilled in for Friday but I think we’ll be meeting [Tuesday] or Wednesday as well. I don’t know what to expect, it’s not my gig" (DAILY RECORD, 1/21).
