Rangers reject resignation attempt by Ally McCoist

Ally McCoist has attempted to quit as manager of Rangers, with the Glasgow giants nine points behind fellow heavyweights Hearts in the Scottish Championship. A club spokesman has issued no comment over these claims, but the board has reportedly rejected this resignation.

Gers are 5/2 with Coral to win Scotland’s second-tier.

McCoist, who as a player was Rangers’ record scorer and is statistically their best-ever permanent manager based on victory percentage (72.56), steered the club to back-to-back promotions, following the financial crisis that cost them their top-flight status.

Assistant to predecessor Walter Smith, McCoist made plain sailing of his second and third seasons in charge at Ibrox, winning the old Scottish Third Division (2012/13) and Scottish League One last term, following a re-structuring of the football pyramid north of the border.

Prior to tendering his resignation, but after the loss in the Scottish Challenge Cup to semi-professional outfit Alloa Athletic, McCoist said: “Have I lost the confidence of the fans? No, but you always get a reaction from poorer results.

“I think I’ve still got a job to do. I’ve said all along the job is to get the team back to the top flight, where we feel we belong. People will make their own judgements, which I totally respect,” McCoist added. “All I can do is assure the supporters I will be doing my level best, 100 per cent, to turn these performances around.”

At this very early stage, former players Terry Butcher and Stuart McCall are front runners for the vacancy. Both men have experience of managing clubs in Scotland too. Both had stints in charge of Motherwell. McCall lost his job there a month ago, while Butcher was axed by Hibernian following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership in an end of season play-off.

Ex-Nottingham Forest, Preston North End and Derby County boss Billy Davies, who also coached Motherwell, is another Gers old boy the club could turn to.

Dutch gaffer Dick Advocaat, recently axed as the Serbia national manager, has also been mooted for a return to Ibrox, following a successful four-year stint between 1998 and 2002. This included consecutive Scottish Premier League and Cup doubles.