Murty doesn't need Scottish Cup win to stay in job, says Ally McCoist

The Ibrox club have not won a major trophy since their financial meltdown in 2012 saw them re-emerge in the bottom tier of Scottish football and sitting 10 points behind Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic having played a game more, the title is a forlorn hope.

Moreover, their city rivals, chasing their second-successive domestic treble, have to be overcome in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park next month.

However, former Rangers manager and striker McCoist, speaking in a Glasgow hotel at the handover of #15,000 to charity from St Cadoc's Youth Club, claimed the majority of Rangers fans would be reasonably satisfied'' with steady improvement as they look to chase down Celtic.

He said: "The first trophy since the club has been in the troubles is always going to be very important.

"I don't think it is the be all and end all that it happens this year.

"It would be great for the supporters if it happened this year.

"But looking at the bigger picture, as long as there is continued improvement and a better level of quality of player that comes in, I think most of the fans will be reasonably satisfied with that.''

McCoist believes that Gers boss Graeme Murty has done "a more than reasonable'' job this season after moving up from the under-20s to take over on a caretaker basis in October - when Pedro Caixinha departed - before being given the job until the end of the season in December.

Murty's long-term future has been subject to much debate after successive home defeats to Celtic and Kilmarnock this month but McCoist, boss from 2011 to 2014, said: "Obviously it was a couple of bad results for Rangers but overall, looking at it fairly, I think Graeme has done a good job.

"Some of the signings that have come in have improved the team and improved the squad and, as I say, he has done a more than reasonable job.

"I felt Celtic deserved to win the game but the last two Old Firm games could have gone Rangers' way.

"That said, Celtic have a better quality of player, certainly in forward areas but I certainly think if there is sensible reinvestment in the Rangers squad that will continue to close the gap.

"There clearly still is a gap but it not as wide as it was a couple of years ago.

"There is still a long, long way to but there has been an improvement.'

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