Wylde insists Rangers want to win for boss Ally McCoist

Gregg Wylde insists Rangers want to lay marker down by beating Celtic for boss Ally McCoist

GREGG WYLDE says he and his Rangers team-mates want to win Sunday’s Old Firm showdown as a tribute to boss Ally McCoist.

And he insists the dressing room is too busy focusing on the Ibrox clash to worry about another week of financial trauma.

The Rangers winger, 20, said: “It’s the first Old Firm game of the season and the players want to win it for the manager.

“It would give us all a boost but a win would be a credit to Ally McCoist as he’s been a great support for everyone since he took charge at the start of this season.

“A win on Sunday would be a tribute to him and allow us to kick on for the rest of the season.

“It’s the chance for us to place a marker down against our main rivals for the title.”

Wylde says discussing off-field money matters is taboo as the players target three points against Celtic to send out a message the SPL champions are on course to retain their crown.

He said: “The players don’t involve themselves with what’s happening off the field. It’s not something we talk about.

“The focus this week has only been on getting ready for Sunday. The management team are always talking about the importance of staying together and being strong.

“What is happening behind the scenes will happen and it will get sorted out in due time. But the players never talk about it.

“The financial situation has also helped young lads like myself break through so that’s not been a negative.”

Wylde admits one glance at the new faces in the Light Blues squad is enough to make him feel like an Old Firm golden oldie.

As a veteran of three clashes against Celtic last season, Wylde insists nothing can prepare the host of team-mates who are in line for a first taste of a Glasgow derby.

But the Scotland Under-21 kid has told Dorin Goian, Juanma Ortiz, Carlos Bocanegra and Matt McKay to brace themselves for the reception at Ibrox on Sunday.

He said: “The new guys will get a bit of fright as the atmosphere and noise out on the pitch is a bit of a shock.

“I’m not saying they won’t enjoy it but they won’t have experienced anything like it during their careers before.

“Compared to them I feel like an Old Firm oldie. I played in the League Cup Final as well as in a goalless draw against Celtic last season and I came off the bench when we lost 1-0 in the Scottish Cup game at Parkhead.

“But nothing prepares you for what it’s going to be like.

“We have gone five games on the bounce unbeaten and Celtic are also doing well so it’s all geared up for being a good game.”

The Murray Park graduate is convinced the emergence of a batch of young Scottish talent has created a Brat Pack who provide encouraging signs for the future.

After bursting on to the scene last season, Wylde insists the experience of lifting a league winners’ medal and Scottish Cup gong have been placed firmly in the memory bank.

He said: “My first target was to get myself around the squad then try to become a part of the team and get involved in games against Celtic. Fortunately, I managed to be a part of that last season.

“The Scottish Cup Final was a massive thing to be part of. I’ll always cherish what happened for me last season but this is a new campaign.

“I can always look back at when I made my Old Firm debut at 19. But Celtic have a pal of mine, James Forrest, also experiencing the same F t l i i th thing and hopefully I’ll be facing him this weekend.

“It’s a great achievement for the two of us to be playing in a game of this importance.

“If you look at some of the young boys coming through it has to be a shot in the arm for Scottish football.

“We’ve had Ross Perry who has done well since he came in against Motherwell. If you give the SPL a couple of years this league could be full of good young Scottish players.

“I have other pals such as Dundee United’s Johnny Russell and Scott Allan, who I met up with at the Scotland Under-21 game.

“We are the best of friends until we play each other and then we become the best of enemies.”

Wylde has penned a five-year deal and is aiming to make sure he’s a fixture in the Ibrox line-up for years to come.

He said: “I have improvements to make. I need to work on my right foot and my heading, these are things which will help me as well as the experiences of being involved in the big games last season.”