RANGERS keeper Steve Simsonsen has vowed to deliver on-field success for Ally McCoist despite the off-the-pitch turmoil at Ibrox.

The experienced goalie was delighted to hear that rumours the Light Blues manager was set to leave the club following the latest round of boardroom bloodletting were false.

Simonsen has been hugely impressed by the job the Gers legend has done in difficult circumstances.

Now the Englishman, who has taken the place of crocked Cammy Bell, wants to concentrate on winning silverware.

And he is confident Rangers can beat Premiership club St Johnstone in tonight's League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox.

Simonsen said: "The gaffer has dealt with everything very well since I've been here.

"We all know what sort of character he is. Many people probably wouldn't be able to deal with it the way he does. That is full credit to him.

"As players, we deal with things on the pitch. That is the only thing we can do. We don't have any influence on what goes on elsewhere."

In his 18-year playing career Simonsen has been at English clubs Everton, Preston North End, Sheffield United, Stoke City and Tranmere Rovers.

But he admits he has never been under such intense scrutiny as he is at Rangers.

The 35-year-old shot-stopper said: "I haven't been at a club like this before. I've been here for just over a year now and you become accustomed to what goes on day in, day out.

"At first it was a bit of shock getting to grips with how much scrutiny is placed on not just the playing staff and the managerial staff, but also the football club in general.

"But you learn to deal with it and concentrate on what our job is on the pitch.

"If we took notice of every single rumour going around the internet or the streets we would not have a minute in the day to do anything else.

"We take everything with a pinch of salt and continue to do the jobs we are paid to do."

Simonsen helped Rangers to defeat top-flight high-flyers Inverness 1-0 in the last round of the League Cup last month.

And he is optimistic his side can get the better of Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone and secure a last-four match at Hampden next year.

HE said: "We're in a quarter- final, have a home tie and a chance to get through to the semi-final of one of the country's major showpieces.

"We're looking forward to it because right now we're firing on all cylinders.

"We're playing well and we are still in every competition we can be in. As players, that's what we look forward to.

"This season we've had a couple of disappointments at Ibrox. Hearts beat us with a last-minute goal in our first league game and we had a poor 20 minutes or so against Hibs when they also won here.

"But apart from that we've done okay. We've got results, scored a lot of goals and we're in quite good heart. Hopefully that will continue."

Simonsen watched Hibs and Hearts draw 1-1 at Easter Road on Sunday, a result that means Rangers are now seven points adrift of the league leaders with a game in hand.

Now the keeper, who has kept consecutive clean sheets at East Fife and Dumbarton, is looking forward to making up ground in the weeks ahead.

He said: "November will be a big month for us. It was good to see Hibs take two points off Hearts to cut their lead a bit.

"Things change quickly in football and we have a big game against Hearts to look forward to at Tynecastle."