KENNY McDowall has admitted there is no guarantee his resignation won't impact on the Rangers players in the build-up to the League Cup semi-final clash with Celtic.

Caretaker boss McDowall handed in his notice to the Ibrox board the day before the SPFL Championship match against leaders Hearts last week.

And Light Blues players were stunned when they discovered on Monday the former Partick Thistle and St Mirren player would be moving on in 12 months' time.

The first-team squad at Rangers has already had to deal with the departure of Ally McCoist, who has been put on gardening leave, during a turbulent season.

And McDowall has confessed that it could have a detrimental affect on his charges ahead of the massive showdown with the Hoops at Hampden a week tomorrow.

Asked if the Gers players would let the development get to them ahead of the first meeting with their city rivals since 2012, he said: "I absolutely hope so - but can I guarantee it?

"I have said to the boys they have my respect and I expect it back.

"They have worked very well this week and we look forward to the game at Cowdenbeath. I can't ask any more of the guys.

"I can only ask them to keep at it. I pick the team and once they go out on the park you need them to play regardless if it's Rangers, St Mirren or Liverpool.

"They are paid to play and you hope they would want to do it for themselves as much as anything."

The 51-year-old, though, is hopeful the Rangers players have grown used to off-field upheaval in the last few years and will be able to take this development in their stride.

And he feels the fact that 12 of them are out of contract in the summer will ensure they remain fully focused between now and the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

He said: "When the news came out I had to get the boys in the next morning and explain my situation.

"There are a lot of boys whose deals expire at the end of this season too so all I could do was be as honest as I can over why I did it.

"I told them they have to play for themselves and they have to look after their own futures.

"I keep harping on but it's not been an easy ride in here for the last four years and the way they have applied themselves has been immense.

"I couldn't say a bad word about them. They have taken a lot knocks for the way they have played from day one when we got put down to the bottom league."

Meanwhile, McDowall has backed Rangers keeper Steve Simonsen not to let the betting charges he was hit with by the SFA on Thursday affect his performances on the park.

He said: "The club issued a statement and I can't comment any further until after the hearing.

"I will have a chat with Simmo. Hopefully he's fine to play. Lee Robinson is available and has gone about his work terrifically well."