Ally McCoist resigns: Ranger refuse to comment on whether McCoist has tendered his resignation

Reports suggest McCoist has offered to resign after pressure has built up among supporters given that they are nine points off top in the Scottish Championship

Ally McCoist is reported to have tendered his resignation (Getty Images)

Rangers have refused to comment on reports that Ally McCoist has offered his resignation as manager.

The 52-year-old has come under pressure from supporters in recent weeks, with the Glasgow giants trailing Hearts by nine points in the race to win promotion from the Scottish Championship, and various reports on Friday suggest he has tendered his resignation.

But a spokesperson for the club offered a brief "no comment" in response to the reports and it is believed McCoist will travel with the team as usual for the Friday evening league game at Queen of the South.

McCoist was a real Ibrox favourite as a player, scoring 355 goals in all and was part of the Rangers team which won nine league titles in a row in the 1980s and 1990s.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist (Getty Images)

However, McCoist's tenure as boss since taking over from Walter Smith in 2011 has been far from plain sailing.

Supporters' criticism of his tactics and signings have increased this season in the wake of some poor performances and results.

Aside from defeats to Championship rivals Hearts and Hibernian, the Gers have failed to beat Alloa in three attempts, with the recent 3-2 Challenge Cup defeat to The Wasps - after blowing a two-goal lead - bringing McCoist's managerial abilities under even more intense scrutiny.

McCoist, who had been assistant to Smith, led Rangers through a turbulent time in the club's history.

Rangers entered administration in February, 2012 before liquidation saw them resume in the lowest tier of Scottish football.

The former Scotland striker had famously said: "We don't do walking away" at the height of the club's crisis which strengthened his hero status in the eyes of the supporters.

However, two successive title wins were no more than was expected for a club who continued to spend big money on players' wages.

Despite being unbeaten on his way to the League One title last season, McCoist was pilloried for Scottish League Cup defeats to Forfar and a loss in the Challenge Cup final to Raith Rovers.

In addition to general disgruntlement at Rangers' performances and style of play, the seemingly-endless battle for power at the cash-strapped club over the past few years has left many fans disillusioned and that has led to falling attendances at Ibrox.

The Rangers team bus left the club's Murray Park training ground for the game against Queen of the South by a back exit on Friday afternoon although it was not clear if McCoist was on board.

One bookmaker immediately installed former Rangers players Stuart McCall and Terry Butcher as 3/1 joint favourites to become the next Ibrox boss.

Another former Ger, Billy Davies, is next in the betting at 10/1.

PA