RANGERS can still complete a hat-trick of title triumphs despite falling 12 points behind SPFL Championship leaders Hearts - according to outgoing boss Ally McCoist.

The undefeated Tynecastle club surged further ahead at the top of the second tier table when they defeated Cowdenbeath by 2-0 at Central Park on Tuesday night.

And it will take a collapse of huge proportions for the Jambos, who have beaten the Gers at home and away this season, not to go on and triumph in the league now.

The League One champions, too, will have to go on an extended winning run to catch them and there has been little evidence they are capable of doing that in the last few weeks.

However, Light Blues captain Lee McCulloch, who will help caretaker manager Kenny McDowall with first team coaching until the end of the 2014/15 campaign, hasn't given up hope.

He revealed that McCoist had told the Rangers squad they can still go on and land the Championship trophy during an emotional farewell at Murray Park earlier this week.

He said: "We had a meeting and a few of the boys were upset as you would expect.

"I was pretty upset myself. I've worked with Ally for eight and a half years and obviously it was emotional to see him leave.

"He had the meeting and a few boys had one-to-ones with him just after it.

"A few wanted to phone him so I didn't really feel the need for a collective thank you.

"I knew all the boys wanted to thank him personally and I did that myself.

"His message to us was to go out and do what we've set out to do every year - get promotion.

"He still believes we can go and win the league. It's going to be tough, but there's no reason we can't do it."

Yet, the centre half knows that Rangers must perform far better against the top teams in the Championship in order to do so - starting against Hibs at Easter Road this afternoon.

The Glasgow giants have lost to Hearts twice, Hibs once and Queen of the South once in their outings against full-time opponents in the ultra-competitive division so far this term.

McCulloch admitted: "We have come short a wee bit against the title rivals, Hibs, Hearts and Queen of the South.

"Falkirk is the only team looked upon as promotion contenders, really, that we have done well against. The Hibs game is a good chance for us to change that.

"We knew it was going to be difficult with the teams involved and the organisation of the teams.

"We knew it would be difficult with the teams that had come down from last year as well. So we are not surprised.

"It is maybe just a willingness to go and fight for each other.

"After the game against Queen of the South, I said that we had to look in the mirror and ask if we had done enough individually and collectively.

"We got a reaction in the game against Livingston and got three points.

"We are just looking to gather some momentum. If we can win against Hibs, I hope that can kickstart us.

"That is something I believe. We need to focus on ourselves."

McCulloch is optimistic the departure of McCoist will not affect performances on the park - and is actually optimistic the players will have a point to prove in their forthcoming matches.

"The 36-year-old believes that many of them will want to repay their old gaffer by helping Rangers complete "The Journey" and book a place back in the top flight of Scottish football.

He said: "There is only one way that we can react and that is positively.

"That showed in the first training session on Tuesday and the manager got the reaction he was looking for with the tempo.

"There has a lot been happening in the last week. But all I'm trying to concentrate on is the game against Hibs and I am sure the rest of the boys will be exactly the same.

"Firstly, I think we do it for ourselves and the fans.

"Obviously, we are going to do it for Kenny as well. However, there will be a sense that we have to do it for Ally as well. That is spot-on."

McCulloch, who is one of the Rangers players who is out of contract at the end of the season, has stressed that he is determined to keep playing despite stepping up to help out with the coaching.

He will help out McDowall and his assistant Gordon Durie until the summer - but is confident taking on extra responsibilities won't impact on his performance levels on the park on match days.

The player/coach commented: "I feel as if my title has changed but my role hasn't.

"As captain I won't really be doing much different than what I usually do and if there's any way I can help Kenny and Gordon out they know I will do that.

"I want to focus on playing at the moment. It's a learning curve for me and it's something that I will hopefully enjoy.

"But there is still a job to be done this season on the pitch and that's what I'm looking to do."