Ally McCoist last night paid tribute to his former Rangers team-mate, Ian Redford, who was found dead on Friday.
There was a minute's silence before the game against East Fife at Ibrox and McCoist talked warmly afterwards about the midfielder, who had been a visitor to the stadium and the training ground just after Christmas.
McCoist also talked about the encouragement Fernando Ricksen has taken from the support of the Rangers fans following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease.
The Dutchman was introduced to the crowd at half-time and left the field in tears after the ovation he received. The fate of Ricksen and Redford made events on the pitch at Ibrox seem incidental.
"I can't tell you what a shock it is," McCoist said of Redford's death. "Everyone here is devastated. He was here on Boxing Day with his son and came in for a beer. The following week he came up to Murray Park and we watched training. We then went inside and had a sandwich and a great conversation. I've known him since the 1980s. We are all devastated and our thoughts are with his family, his wife Janine and his two boys and his daughter. It's absolutely terrible."
Ricksen was in Glasgow this weekend to attend two functions arranged for him to meet supporters. He was too frail to talk to the crowd, but it was clear that the occasion overwhelmed him. The crowd also sang his name during the game.
"Incidents like that put everything into perspective," McCoist said. "I spoke to Fernando before the game and he was extremely positive and genuinely happy to be back in Glasgow. He was thrilled at the reception he was getting from people who hold him very dearly. And it's to Fernando's credit the fans have taken to him as much as they have."
l Match report, page 5
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