And he told anyone enjoying the plight of the Scottish champions to make the most of it while they can because he is convinced the Ibrox side will emerge from one of the most turbulent periods in their history.

McCoist is bracing himself for player redundancies which are expected to be announced early next week, meaning today's 2-1 defeat to Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is likely to be the last time this current crop of players will play together as a team before the administrator's axe falls.

McCoist said: "At this moment in time we are wounded - there is no doubt about it.

"There are probably one or two people out there enjoying it, maybe one or two people having a wee fly kick.

"I would suggest to them to give a right good kick just now because we will not be where we are for a long time."

Asked if he could elaborate on those comments, the Rangers boss said: "Not really. It will just go down avenues that I don't really want to go down, to be honest with you.

"Let's just say, while we are down there, we are having a look up and we are seeing what we are seeing."

On the club's future, he added: "I am absolutely 100% confident that our football club will continue.

"I'm not sure yet what way, shape or form it will continue but our football club will continue.

"Every supporter to a man will continue following us in whatever way, shape or form that we are."

McCoist also revealed he has now spoken to owner Craig Whyte, in a brief telephone call the manager instigated, just over week ago.

He said: "Whether Craig and I speak is not really going to solve any issues. The issues will have to be solved by the administrators and then we will take it from there."

In a media briefing ahead of today's game, joint administrator David Whitehouse said job losses in the playing staff were "likely" - but McCoist is not yet resigned to a major cull.

He said: "There is certainly not an acceptance on my part.

"I've had meetings with the administrators and the staff and the SPFA for the vast majority of the week.

"All the discussions and conversations have been very frank and honest and very open.

"I can't put a date on it because the administrators are in charge but I would be surprised if we weren't clearer in the direction we are heading at the beginning of the week."

On the number of potential redundancies, McCoist added: "I'm very hopeful there can be ongoing discussions between everybody. We can always push to get a better deal for everybody.

"The ideal situation is no job losses at all, the next best situation is minimal job losses. I'm sure I'm speaking for all parties when I tell you we will continue to strive to do exactly that."

One scenario that does not appear to be an option is an agreement by the players to defer substantial amounts of their salaries until the end of the season, after the administrators said today they could not agree to such a plan in a bid to save jobs.

Asked how the players felt about that, McCoist said: "I can't speak for the players to be honest. That's a conversation between the union and the players.

"I'm not sure I'm surprised or disappointed, I'm at the stage now where nothing surprises me or disappoints me.

"We just have to face the facts, face what's on the table and deal with it. That's what we will do."

What was perhaps a surprise to McCoist was the revelation by the administrators yesterday that the club must find savings of £1million per month to ensure the ongoing viability of the business.

He said: "It's an awful lot of money to be haemorrhaging per month, let's put it that way.

"Especially when I've got reason to believe - not knowing the exact figures - that the debt has come down by some £16million or £17million in the last three years or so.

"But I'm not a money man so I don't know all the ins and outs of that."

The administrators have set a date of March 16 for best offers for parties interested in mounting a takeover bid.

McCoist said: "I think anything that moves us forward would be regarded as being positive and that would be extremely positive if somebody came in with investment for the club and took over us and took the club forward."

Skipper Steven Davis fired Rangers into the lead at Ibrox today, before Ian Black levelled and Jamie Hamill grabbed the winner for Hearts following a controversial penalty award.

But despite a first SPL win in six games, Jambos boss Paulo Sergio kept his post-match press conference to a minimum out of respect for the difficulties being faced by Rangers.

He said: "Of course I am very happy with the result. Not because we beat Rangers, not because it's here at Ibrox, but because we didn't win our last five games in the league.

"Excuse myself, but I don't want to speak about the game as a sign of respect of all my team for the Rangers professionals because of the problems that they are having.

"So, I leave the thoughts and what you have to say about the game for you. I just want to say, as a sign of respect for all these professionals, I don't want to speak too much about the game. Thank you."