ALLY McCoist has stressed he needs cash to strengthen his squad this summer if Rangers are to challenge for the SPFL Championship next season.

Disgruntled Gers supporters this week threatened to withhold season ticket money in the summer unless a series of demands are met by the board.

The Union of Fans - an umbrella group comprising the six main supporters' organisations - was responding to a call from former director Dave King.

The South Africa-based businessman urged supporters to pool their season book money in a trust until they had been given guarantees about the club's finances.

And the Castlemilk-born multi-millionaire also urged them to demand representation on the board before releasing on a "pay-as-they-play" basis.

Gers boss McCoist has refused to get drawn into the increasingly tense stand-off between the two factions and is instead concentrating on football matters

But he did admit that he will need money to bring in new players in the close season in order to challenge for a place in the top flight in the 2014/15 campaign.

McCoist said: "I'd like to add to the squad. We've got to strengthen to continue the build.

"I don't want to start the build by losing people rather than getting people in.

"I think the Championship is a lot stronger than a lot of people think. The majority if not all of the teams are full-time."

McCoist added: "I'd far rather being in a position to strengthen to move forward, not just for next season but for longer term as well.

"Without strengthening ahead of next season there would be no guarantees (of promotion). It would be very tough.

"But Graham (Wallace) and the board share my concern because they want to continue improvement and continue the success on the park and get us right back."

Meanwhile, McCoist has confirmed he would like to keep Arnold Peralta at Rangers - despite the Honduran claiming he wants to leave this summer in an interview with a website in his homeland.

He said: "It's a delicate issue as I don't know what he's thinking. But I would like to keep him."