RANGERS manager Ally McCoist today insisted that his determination to return the club to the forefront of Scottish football still remains undiminished.

And he revealed he is hopeful the prospect of billionaire businessman Mike Ashley increasing his involvement at Ibrox will help him realise those ambitions.

Glasgow was awash with rumours yesterday that McCoist was to be sacked from his position at the Ibrox club after more than three years in charge.

Speculation about his future mounted following the departures of the Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace and financial chief Phillip Nash.

And as the former Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias prepared to start work at the Championship club today, the whispers continued unabated.

But following a series of morning phone calls from chairman David Somers and shareholder Sandy Easdale, the legendary goalscorer was urged to concentrate on his job.

And the man who has taken his boyhood heroes from the bottom division to the brink of the top flight in the last two years stressed he had not considered quitting his post.

He said: "I'm as strong willed as I've ever been to continue in my job of getting Rangers back to the top flight. And then further.

"I won't, and we as a football club can't, lose sight of that. We simply cannot do that as it is far too important to too many people. There have been a lot of things going on in the last couple of years when there might have been a reason, but certainly not an excuse, to take your eye off the ball."

Asked if he had thought about "walking away", McCoist added: "No, not at all. I think my past helps. I feel I know the club as well as anybody.

"I'm not comparing myself in any way shape of form to John Greig and Walter Smith but, what I would say, is that I know the club as well as anybody.

"I know how quickly things can change, from good to bad and then bad to good. At our club there is seldom an indifferent period.

"The best piece of advice I have been given is not to get too carried away with the good and not to get too down with the bad. If you do that then you'll be okay."

Nash and Wallace are believed to have left Rangers after opposing the £2million loan deal that was agreed with Ashley.

The pair were said to have favoured the £16million rescue package that was proposed by a group fronted by former club director Dave King.

Yet the plc board voted in favour of the offer from Newcastle United owner Ashley, who is now being tipped to underwrite a future share issue.

McCoist has revealed he was encouraged after speaking to both chairman Somers and football board chairman Easdale yesterday.

He continued: "There was optimism from the two board members I spoke to. That is the only lead I can take.

"The chairman and Sandy had the decency to phone me and both are optimistic in their views of moving the club forward. As manager of the club I have to take that on board.

"I got the impression that both gentlemen were of the opinion that decisions were made for the benefit of the football club moving forward. I absolutely and totally respect that.

"Both made it clear they were very happy in terms of the investment coming into the club and the longer-term view of moving forward.

"They feel we are in a better place, and are going to be in a better place, which was obviously encouraging for me to hear."

McCoist, whose side take on St Johnstone in the quarter-final of the League Cup at Ibrox tonight, stressed he had no plans to speak to Ashley.

He said: "If Mike Ashley wants to see me — or any of the people who work for him want to see me — then that will happen.

"But I'm manager of the football team. Most of my meetings, if not all of the meetings, I want will be involving the football side of the business.

"It would be wrong of me to start asking to meet people. If it happens then it will happen, but I have far, far more important things to worry about with the games coming up.

"With the greatest of respect, Mike Ashley and the board and the fans would want me to be saying those things."

Rangers fans have been divided over the prospect of Sports Direct magnate Ashley taking a greater say in the running of the Glasgow giants.

Some feel the 50-year-old tycoon, who is the 15th-richest person in the UK, has the wherewithal to make a significant difference to the Gers' fortunes.

But many others believe the enigmatic Englishman, who currently owns an 8.92 per cent stake in Rangers, is simply looking to make a profit on his investment.

McCoist admitted he can understand the followers of the League One champions being disillusioned but urged them to remain behind his side as they bid to secure a place in the top flight.

He said: "It has been an unbelievably tough three years and I can appreciate, totally, the frustration from a section of the fans.

"All I would ask of them is to continue with their unbelievable support of the team.

"I know there has been talk of boycotts and people staying away and I can understand that.

"The last thing I will ever do is turn against the fans because they have been the one loyal and one constant throughout the last three years.

"I'm optimistic we can get back to where they want."

The Sons of Struth fans group has organised a boycott of the game against St Johnstone but McCoist is hopeful it will not impact on his side on the park.

He said: "I totally respect their decision. But whether there is 100 people or 55,000 in the stadium it doesn't change things.

"We have to go out and get a result that will get us into the semi-final of the cup."