ALLY McCOIST has revealed he tried to sign Jamie Vardy for Rangers when he was manager - but admits he simply cost too much during a financially difficult time for the club.

The English striker is currently the top scorer in the Premier League and has risen to fame with Leicester City following a late breakthrough into professional football.

But his career path could have been very different if he opted to make a move to Glasgow from Fleetwood Town between 2011 and 2012.

McCoist explained on talkSPORT: "I remember looking at him when he was at Fleetwood and I was at Rangers.

"I couldn't get the money to get him.

"I had John Brown, my chief scout, look at him two or three times. It was an absolute no-brainer but we couldn't get the money to get him.

"He's been fantastic.

"We couldn't get the money at that time, it was amazing. And we weren't talking a lot of money, it was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.

"That's just more the position our club was in at that particular time, to tell you the truth.

"Thankfully for Jamie, he made the correct decision and never let me anywhere near him."