THE ongoing off-field turmoil at Rangers is, while unsettling for everyone at the Ibrox club, nothing new.

The Glasgow institution has had to contend with periods of unrest in the stands throughout its 142-year history.

Ally McCoist was given an early introduction to it shortly after putting pen to paper with his boyhood heroes back in 1983.

Gers supporters were deeply unhappy with the performances of the team on the park - and the running of the club off it.

And they were not slow to voice their anger - much to the astonishment of their fresh-faced 21-year-old striker.

However, McCoist feels the attitude that he adopted 31 years ago is every bit as relevant now as it was back then.

And he is confident that, despite the prospect of fans boycotting fixtures, the uncertainty at Rangers will not affect his charges.

"There were some serious protests back in '83 regarding the team and what was happening," said McCoist.

"I remember it being a shock to the system, to be honest with you. It was a shock to all the players.

"That said, you just have to handle it and get on with it because supporters have every right to voice their opinion in whatever way they feel regarding the team and the club.

"I was a fairly young player at the time, but I remember we just tried to knuckle down and get better results. That's all we did.

"Obviously, history will tell you we won a couple of League Cups in that period but the real change came when Graeme Souness arrived.

"But the important thing back in that difficult time was for the players to knuckle down, working hard and trying to get good results on the park.

"With the greatest of respect, that hasn't really changed much. That is still the best philosophy for players because that is the greatest thing they can affect for the club and supporters - producing results."

McCoist endured a torrid start to his Rangers career and was the subject of abuse from supporters who believed he was not up to leading the line for the Ibrox club.

But he revealed he was given a piece of advice by team-mate Gregor Stevens that helped him through that difficult spell - and continues to apply to this day.

"In '83, the guys who helped me where people like big Colin McAdam - God rest him - and Gregor Stevens," he said.

"We were toiling in that particular period. I always remember the first piece of advice I got from Gregor.

"He told me the one thing I'd need at this club was to be thick-skinned. If I was like that, I had a chance.

"To a certain degree, I think that still applies - whether you are a manager, a coach, a player or, indeed, a supporter. I think you need a thick skin to get through it all.

"It has certainly been getting put to the test in terms of the supporters over the past couple of years."

Rangers have a chance to leapfrog SPFL Championship leaders Hearts into first place in the table, albeit for just a day, if they beat Raith Rovers tonight.

Despite speculation about the League One champions being unable to pay their wages this month, McCoist is confident his players will be completely focused on their task.

And he praised the senior professionals in his Light Blues squad for ensuring that nobody allows their attention to wander.

He said: "The boys have been doing really well. They are just concentrating on their job as football players and trying to get results.

"Hand on heart, we have been absolutely thrilled with the training in the past 10 days or so. It has been fantastic. They have gone about their work really well.

"I have to congratulate them on concentrating on what could be seen as the most important job at the club - getting us out of this division.

"No-one has mentioned (wages) at all. No-one has actually mentioned any of the off-field stuff to me. They have been totally concentrated on getting the work done in training and so on. They have been great, really lively."

He went on: "I don't have anything to tell them in terms of off-field stuff. My priority is with the workforce and the club so if there was a need for me to tell them anything then I certainly would. But there is absolutely no need for me to do so at this moment in time.

"I certainly haven't been passed any information that would concern me and make me think I had to say something to the boys."

McCoist added: "We're lucky that we have great pros. Boys who have been over the course and distance.

"They are obviously the likes of Lee McCulloch, Jon Daly and others who know what it is all about and we have a younger element as well.

"But it is very important that we have a level-headed group of older professionals who do assist and have a great bearing on matters in the dressing room. That goes from there out on to the park as well."