ALLY McCOIST has urged both Celtic and Rangers to increase away allocations back to 8,000 for Old Firm clashes when football returns.

Both clubs cut each other’s visiting briefs for the top of the table showdowns in 2018, leaving away ends housing just 800 punters for derby matches.

The move by the Glasgow giants has been widely criticised and Ibrox hero McCoist insists it has to change.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I haven’t been to Parkhead for an Old Firm recently but I have been to Ibrox when Celtic only had 800. 

“But then I went to the league cup final when Celtic won, the stadium was split and the atmosphere was just brilliant, you realised what you were missing.

“The atmosphere as you can still imagine for the home team with the vast majority of fans is good, but when the away section have a good support the atmosphere is fantastic.

“I don’t really know how it started it was probably a bit tit-for-tat. 

“I know Rangers I think were not too happy with the supporters getting stuck down the corner with maybe an obstructed view. It then led on one thing to the next thing.

“It doesn’t matter how it started, but it needs to end that’s what it needs to do.”

He added: “When we get back playing football hopefully in the foreseeable future they can get it sorted.

“There’s something about the away fans, listen the home fans we love, the supporters who are loyal. But the away fans that travel always in my football career and memories, always make some noise.”

TalkSPORT guest Ray Parlour also chipped in saying: “The away fans do make the atmosphere much better if you can get three or four thousand into the stadium.”

While host Alan Brazil added: “Nobody I know in Scotland thinks it is a good idea.”