Pundit claims Rangers are a bigger club than Spurs

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has questioned former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara after claiming that managing Bournemouth would be a bigger job than managing Rangers.

Rangers have a history rich with honours north of the border and have previously dominated the Scottish game along with Celtic for many decades.

However, the quality of Scottish football has failed to keep up with the rise of the top leagues in Europe over the last couple of decades, with even the likes of Celtic and Rangers struggling to compete in European competitions.

O’Hara suggested to talkSPORT’s Sports Bar that Steven Gerrard should take the Bournemouth job, which is vacant after Eddie Howe’s departure.

He insisted that it was the bigger challenge than the Rangers job since he will have an opportunity to get the Cherries back into the Premier League.

McCoist has now said labelled O’Hara’s statement ‘bizarre’ and claimed that Rangers were an even bigger club than the likes of Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast, the former Rangers striker and manager said: “If ever there was a case for a talkSPORT broadcaster to be breathalysed and drug tested in the same movement for having an opinion as stupid as that, yesterday was that particular occasion.

“I’m all for everyone having an opinion… unless it’s Jamie O’Hara talking about Rangers and Bournemouth!

“Have you ever heard anything as ridiculous as your life, as the Billericay Town manager trying to work out who the biggest club is between Rangers and Bournemouth?

“I sent him a message and he’s not got back to me, it was a bizarre statement to be making.

“He’s talking a load of nonsense! Nonsense! Absolutely no chance, there’s no way on this planet. The Rangers job is far bigger!

“Leeds or Rangers? Rangers. West Ham or Rangers? Rangers. Newcastle or Rangers? Rangers.

“Everton or Rangers? Rangers, but you’re closer now… Tottenham or Rangers? Rangers. Arsenal or Rangers? Erm… there’s a good one. Rangers.

“Chelsea or Rangers? Oh I do like Chelsea, but I’m still going Rangers.

“There’s only three or four – Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, clubs like that.

“The only thing between these clubs and Rangers and Celtic in finances. If Rangers and Celtic played in the top flight in England within five years you’ll have a top eight instead of top six, it’s a simple as that. It’s just money that’s holding to Old Firm clubs back.”

Spurs Web Opinion

This is clearly a personal issue for McCoist given his history with Rangers. Scottish football fans, in general, get touchy when you mention that mid-table Premier League jobs are bigger than the Celtic and the Rangers ones. While I am not sure Steven Gerrard will be tempted by the Bournemouth job, should any Premier League side come calling for him, he will probably be off.

Saying that Rangers and Celtic will be bigger than the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea if they play in the Premier League is a ridiculous statement. You can say that about many clubs across Europe but the reality is that Celtic and Rangers do not play in the Premier League. They do not have anywhere near the same global following that the top clubs in the Premier League do, which is why they also lag behind in terms of commercial revenue.

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