ANDY WALKER has challenged Ally McCoist’s calls for Rangers to receive fixture help ahead of their Champions League qualifier against PSV Eindhoven.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side take on the Eredivisie side for a spot in the Champions League group stage.
And McCoist this morning fumed over the lack of support given to Rangers ahead of the match after PSV were handed a free weekend between the two legs.
The Rangers hero reflected on the jam-packed schedule in the run-up to the 2008 UEFA Cup final when he was assistant as he questioned why the club weren’t being assisted in their European goals.
But ex-Celtic striker – now Sky Sports pundit – Walker reckons the match against Hibs is a “great fixture” for Rangers ahead of the second leg.
As it stands, Rangers will play St Johnstone on Saturday, August 13 before PSV on Tuesday, August 16. They’ll then play Hibs on Saturday, August 20 before the away leg to PSV on Wednesday, August 24.
Speaking on Go Radio, Walker commented: “It’s a game Sky chose weeks ago and if Rangers had a problem I’m sure they’d have made contact.
“I’m not sure they want to cancel it. I think it’s a great fixture to have before you go in against quality opposition.
“I’m just not sure that Giovanni van Bronckhorst would want the game to be postponed. Although I can be corrected.”
McCoist had earlier said on talkSPORT: “It’s a shambles. Particularly the Scottish FA.
“I keep harping back to when Rangers reached the Europa League Final in 2008, it was an absolute embarrassment.
“They made us play five league games in 11 days and there was a UEFA final in between it.
“The head of the SFA George Peat came out and said another club director said to him ‘don’t help Rangers’.
“That’s what your dealing with. We’re so blinkered and narrow-minded.
“Any Scottish team that has an opportunity to do well in Europe should be helped but there’s none.”