ALLY McCOIST today hit back at Hibs boss Alan Stubbs for his "laughable" comments ahead of Monday's Championship clash at Ibrox.

The Easter Road gaffer called on whistler Calum Murray to be 'strong' when the promotion hopefuls do battle next week.

But McCoist fired: "I don't have a problem if he wants to referee the game. Or if he wants to pick someone to referee it. I don't have a problem with that. I thought some of his comments were laughable. He was even commenting on our game against Falkirk on Tuesday night.

"I don't know why he's getting himself involved in that. We've all got enough problems with our own teams."

The row erupted after Stubbs was furious ref John Beaton sent off Danny Handling at Ibrox earlier this season, with the forward's dismissal arguably the turning point in a game the Gers won 2-1.

And Falkirk boss Peter Houston was incensed by Alan Muir's decision to refuse the Bairns a penalty as they lost 3-1 to the League One champions on League Cup duty in midweek.

But McCoist reckons his former Old Firm rival has overstepped the mark with his pre-match comments as he praised whistler Murray ahead of a crucial league encounter.

He said: "Contrary to what Stubbsy is saying, I'm delighted with the referee. He's one of the best. He'll make mistakes on Monday but we all will. We just have to get on with."

Rangers will head into the Hibs clash six points off the title pace if Hearts beat Livingston at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Lewis Macleod, Nicky Clark and Kenny Miller all miss out through injury, but McCoist does not expect to call on keeper Cammy Bell for some time after a successful shoulder operation this week.

He said: "I was under the impression that it was five or six months, although I read somewhere that it would be four months. We'll have to wait and see obviously.

"He goes away after the op and won't do anything for two-and-a-half weeks and then we can start working on him.

"But although I read it would be four months, I've been told it might be a couple of months longer than that."