Ally McCoist insisted he is still the man to lead Rangers back into the Scottish Premier League despite a 2-0 defeat to Queen of the South and reportedly terndering his resignation before the game.

The former Scotland striker refused to comment on those reports prior to kick-off and he declined to address them directly after goals from Kevin Holt and Gavin Reilly at Palmerston left Rangers in danger of falling 12 points behind Scottish Championship leaders Hearts and all-but out of the race for automatic promotion.

However, he was adamant that his situation has not changed.

“Not at all, not in the slightest, I’m the Rangers manager, I’m focused to get the team promotion,” he told BT Sport when asked if defeat altered his view of his position. “There’s a title to play for and there is certainly, without doubt, promotion to play for.”

His team, he said, “let themselves down” and “let the club down”.

He added: “The buck stops with the manager, I’ve never thought anything else, I certainly won’t shirk that issue. That was my team tonight and it was a poor performance.”

McCoist admitted the Rangers fans deserve “clarity” but added that it wouldn’t come from him and that the “club will probably comment”.

“I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank the fans for their support, they certainly didn’t get a performance tonight, that is for sure.”

Reports emerged around 1.30pm this afternoon suggesting McCoist had handed in his notice, while sources later claimed his resignation offer — which could cost the club up to €1.8 million — had been knocked back by the Light Blues’ cash-strapped board.

McCoist was already under pressure following recent defeats to Hearts and Alloa.