Manager Ally McCoist says Rangers must start producing results on the field regardless of the financial challenges they face off it.

Their first game since being forced into administration on Valentine’s Day ended in a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Ibrox last weekend.

The Scottish champions were immediately docked 10 points after calling in the administrators, a situation which effectively ended the title race and put Celtic firmly in the driving seat at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

However, McCoist is adamant his players must reward the backing their fans have shown during a turbulent period by delivering the goods on the park, starting with Sunday’s trip to Inverness.

He said: “Last week was a massive disappointment. We wanted to win the game for everybody.

“That was more than three points after the week we’d had.

“With the supporters turning up, we wanted to win the game and it wasn’t to be. One or two things didn’t go our way and that was that.

“The one thing that has always been the same at this club regarding football is that you have to bounce back from a disappointment.

“We have an opportunity to do that on Sunday when we go up to see the big man (Terry Butcher) and his team up there.”

Rangers must have their finances in order by March 31 in order to meet requirements for a UEFA licence to participate in Europe next season.

But, whether continental competition is a realistic option or not, McCoist wants his side to finish as high in the SPL as possible, with Motherwell also real contenders for second place now.

On the subject of the UEFA licence, McCoist said: “It’s further down the line, but I’m not sure it’s further down the list of priorities because it’s a big priority and it would be a massive boost.

“They (administrators) haven’t said it’s not going to be the case yet so until they do I would be hopeful. But I do appreciate the difficulty of the situation.

“We have to accumulate as many points as we possibly can for a number of reasons – European football, to finish as high up the league as we can.

“The targets might change, for example if European football isn’t an option that target will change, but, in terms of accumulating as many points as we possibly can, that is one target that will not change between now and the end of the season.”

Asked if he is in a position to reassure fans who are worried by the club’s financial crisis, with further developments and revelations occurring almost on a daily basis, McCoist said: “What I can guarantee them is hard work from the staff.

“I can only pass on information that’s been passed on to me through the administrators.

“Although we are in administration, my opinion would be that the administrators have been positive talking about the future of the club. We have to take heart from that.

“I can only echo what I’ve said to the supporters – we can never undervalue the importance of the support they have given us.

“All these supporters are getting together and, in terms of financial arrangements, they are trying to come up with things for the club.

“It’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Keep it coming and keep supporting the team.

“I don’t know if I’ve got my own personal fears for the future.

“I’m concerned like any Rangers supporter but, within my concern, I’m certainly hopeful and extremely positive.”