Derek Johnstone: Ally McCoist should be remembered for his role at Rangers and invited to Ibrox title party

Mark Warburton’s side will get their hands on the second tier silverware after the visit of Alloa in a fortnights time in their penultimate league outing this term.

READ MORE: Ally McCoist: Rangers have to strengthen before they can challenge Celtic for title

The Gers clinched their Premiership return with victory over Dumbarton on Tuesday night and will now look to overcome Peterhead in the Petrofac Training Cup final before turning their attentions to the Old Firm Scottish Cup showdown next Sunday.

McCoist was instrumental for Rangers during their darkest days and led his side to the Third Division and League One crowns in successive seasons.

The Gers’ record scorer left Ibrox in December 2014 after a turbulent few months on and off the park before the Light Blues eventually went on to miss out on promotion via the play-offs.

McCoist is still held in high regard by supporters and Johnstone hopes he will be able to play his part in marking the end of The Journey and perhaps join the celebrations this month.

READ MORE: Ally McCoist: Rangers have to strengthen before they can challenge Celtic for title

He told SportTimes: “Ally, in the end, took an awful lot of stick from so many people but he started off the recovery.

“He had a job to do in the Third Division and League One and that was to get Rangers through the leagues amid everything else that was going on at the club. He did that and he had a big part to play in The Journey.

“I hope that he is back at Ibrox for the game against Alloa in a couple of weeks. Ally is as big a Rangers fan as anybody out there.

"It must have been difficult for him in the end, having been such a legend as a player, to leave the club like he did. He was the manager of the club at the worst time in Rangers’ history.

“A few days before the season started in 2012, he only had a handful of players but he did what he had to do for Rangers.

READ MORE: Ally McCoist: Rangers have to strengthen before they can challenge Celtic for title

“He could have said ‘this is a job for an experienced manager’ and left the club, but he stayed there and he played his part in the first couple of seasons.

“You can’t forget what Ally, and Kenny McDowall and Gordon Durie, did for Rangers during their time at the club.

“I think every one of them deserve a pat on the back. For the last home game, I would like to think they would be asked back to Ibrox, and perhaps some of the former players, to say thanks for what they did for Rangers over the years.

"I am sure if they asked Ally he would be there in a heartbeat.”