‘A shambles’ – Ally McCoist weighs in on Manchester United financial situation as Rangers hero defends Jim Ratcliffe

IT's safe to say the glorious Manchester United that Ally McCoist has known for the majority of his life is long gone.
The questions now are on how, when or if the Premier League giants will ever reach those elite levels again.
Rangers hero McCoist has weighed into the dire financial situation at United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe having overseen a raft of cuts to staff in recent weeks.
Their famous stadium is also struggling and plans have been revealed for a new 100,000 seater stadium to replace Old Trafford.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ratcliffe admitted the current squad that has been assembled is not good enough but even more shockingly he suggested the club could have run OUT of money by Christmas, sparking a series of cuts.
While Ratcliffe may have been going to the extremes, there's no doubting United's finances are not in a healthy state.
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The problems sparked a debate on talkSPORT this morning, with Sports Breakfast host Alan Brazil discussing Manchester United's affairs with McCoist.
Brazil said: "When he cut Sir Alex Ferguson's pay, saying sorry you're welcome here all the time but we're not paying you anymore, some of the legends like Bryan Robson have been cut a wee bit as well, I can understand why he's doing it.
"But what I don't get, is that surely [Ineos] must have looked forensically at the accounts and how much money was going out and how much money he (Ratcliffe) would have to put in.
"Let's be honest, the Glazers are sitting there on the beach with the cigar out and Ratcliffe is getting all the flak."
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McCoist agreed, saying that co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer were the bigger problems.
He said: "That's the problem.
"That's why he held that meeting yesterday because make no mistake about it, so far he's been the fall guy.
"Laying off staff, moaning about this, that and the next thing.
"So that's why he's had this meeting, to let the supporters know exactly where the club is.
"He's said they could have been out of business before Christmas.
"That's absolutely remarkable.
"The one thing you've got to say is he's an intelligent man and he'll have intelligent people around him."
McCoist was then reminded about the demise of Rangers in 2012.
Brazil suggested it was proof that, no matter the size of the club, they would not be exempt from financial ruin.
And McCoist responded: "It could happen. It's a shambles.
"An absolute shambles.
"But I'm looking at Manchester United and I'm thinking he must have done his due dilligence.
"There must be an end game, whether that's five years down the line with a new stadium and then they can start spending money on players again.
"He wouldn't have taken it on unless he could see an end game.
"He's a businessman, there's got to be an end game.
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"But the problem still, I think, is the Glazers.
"If the Glazers are sitting there and you're just paying back interest, that's your problem, and I don't know how you get out of that one."
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