The Rangers assistant manager joined forces with security chief Kenny Scott and Light Blues legend Peter Jardine to urge supporters to desist from sectarian chanting in a renewed effort to improve the club's image with UEFA and across the board.

McCoist admits Rangers may never rid themselves of their sectarian element, but he has urged anyone with views which might be considered offensive to keep them private.

Ibrox chiefs are aware and fearful of the potential for Rangers being docked points, fined or even thrown out of competitions due to the behaviour of supporters.

Asked whether he would take action during a match, McCoist said: "I've got to stop it, of course I would.

"If my club is going to get docked three points I think it's the sensible thing to do, try to nip it in the bud straight away."

McCoist warned that supporters could cost Rangers their shot at glory if the minority continue to indulge in behaviour he insists they know is out of order.

"They have to come on board and come with us. We've already had this warning from UEFA and it's getting serious," he said.

"Once you start talking about getting points deducted - it's a hard enough job trying to win cups and win leagues as it is.

"We just can't afford any setbacks. Obviously we've been threatened with fines and things like that. We can't afford it to happen.

"We're proud as punch of the vast majority of Rangers fans. They're fantastic.

"To a certain degree a lot of the fans can police themselves, because you do know what's offensive and what's not offensive, and we have to start singing the right songs."

McCoist, Jardine and Scott were promoting 'Follow With Pride', which follows the 'Pride Over Prejudice' campaign.

After two warnings in the way of fines from UEFA over supporter behaviour after games against Villarreal and Osasuna, Rangers are demanding their fans behave on the Champions League trip to Montenegro to face Zeta.

The second leg of the second qualifying round tie takes place on August 7.

McCoist said: "We're definitely heading in the right direction. We're not out of the woods, we've not got everything perfect, and I don't think we ever will.

"But as long as you can be seen to be moving in the right direction and doing the right things it helps."

He added: "Anybody that's going to sing a song that's got a chance of us being deducted three points, you'd have to say that's wrong.

"It was a lot more common years and years ago. As wrong as it was, there was nothing really getting done about it.

"Scottish football and the Old Firm have taken massive strides in an attempt to do what's right, and they'll continue to do that.

"I used to go to Rangers games and the atmosphere was fantastic. Times have changed and fans from all over the country can't sing songs they were singing before, and that's the way it is.

"It's a step in the right direction we've taken, which means they can't do that.

"We're all sensible adults and make mistakes, but at the same time you know what's right and what's wrong.

"I don't doubt for a minute there have been one or two mistakes made in the past and there'll be one or two mistakes made in the future, but we've got to learn from that.

"Hopefully we'll make Scottish football a better product and a better thing to watch in safer surroundings and happier surroundings."

Scott's words echoed McCoist's sentiments.

The Rangers security and operations manager, who came to the club in May from his previous post as chief superintendent of Strathclyde Police, reminded supporters that UEFA and Scottish Premier League officials will pay close attention to every match Rangers play.

Scott said: "No-one is under any illusions: UEFA have provided warnings about negative behaviour as a club over the past two seasons.

"We think the supporter behaviour will improve to the levels UEFA are looking for and we're trying to encourage them.

"It's not only the eyes of UEFA which are on Rangers this season. The SPL have issued new guidelines to clubs which talk about unacceptable conduct.

"That unacceptable conduct hasn't been strictly defined, but I think, and it's the club's view, that people know what unacceptable conduct is, they know when they're doing something that could attract negative publicity for the club.

"If that happens in the domestic environment this season and the SPL judge that the club is guilty of allowing unacceptable conduct, then that can result in a fine or even a points deduction for the club.

"You've got to say to the people who still engage in that unacceptable, unreasonable conduct, don't do it; don't come to Ibrox and engage in that type of behaviour because your fellow supporters don't want it, and Rangers don't want it.

"We want to see Rangers being successful domestically and successful in Europe.

"People who engage in that unacceptable behaviour are a barrier to that success and we don't want them."

Scott warned fans they could be barred from attending Ibrox games for life.

"Talking about banning people - absolutely," he said.

"We still have the opportunity to impose indefinite bans or even lifetime bans for people who do indulge in behaviour which is offensive to the club."

Jardine added: "What you've got to remember is you've got 80 years of sectarian issues. You're not going to clear it overnight.

"It might take another five, 10, 15 years, I don't know. But the club is determined to get on the right lines."