Rangers manager Ally McCoist remains hopeful job losses will be kept to a minimum as administrators continue to carry out a review of staff.

McCoist: Encouraged by latest news

Joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse did not make any immediate cuts after their company Duff and Phelps took control of the Scottish champions on Tuesday.

McCoist has so far been able to retain all the players at his disposal, albeit they were unable to avoid a 1-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

And the Rangers boss hopes his personnel will not be too drastically affected by the club's precarious financial situation as dialogue remains ongoing with the administrators.

McCoist said: "One of the things the administrators have said is that cuts, people losing their jobs, isn't inevitable.

"They have said it's a possibility but it's not inevitable. That in itself I would find encouraging.

"That's not to say that it won't happen but I think it gives everybody hope. In the grand scheme of things that is one of, if not the, most important things."

One of the main reasons for McCoist's optimism was the decision of the administrators to allow Rangers to attempt to conclude the signing of Daniel Cousin.

The Light Blues confirmed his return to Ibrox - subject to international clearance - 24 hours before the club was forced into administration.

The striker was not registered with the Scottish Premier League at that stage and, under their rules relating to insolvency events, the SPL blocked the player's registration on Friday night.

Asked if Rangers will appeal the decision, McCoist said: "I don't know, I haven't spoken to the administrators but we will definitely have a chat with the administrators.

"What I would say is, they totally backed us in attempts to get Daniel Cousin to the club. It was the board of the SPL who knocked it back."

A Dean Shiels goal proved to be the difference between the two teams on Saturday on a day when Sasa Papac's red card added to the woes of Rangers.

McCoist said: "I said to the boys after the game, if they can maintain the attitude and application which they showed in the second half - and that is what is required - we will be absolutely fine."

Ibrox witnessed its biggest crowd of the season as 50,268 fans flocked to the match to demonstrate their backing for the manager and players.

McCoist said: "The support was unbelievable. I was sitting upstairs in the office at 1.30pm and the noise outside was incredible.

"The fans were everything we expected them to be. I'm just gutted we couldn't get them the win.

"We need everybody to stick together and be positive and if we do that, we've got a real fighting chance."

Kilmarnock had already defeated Rangers earlier in the season and boss Kenny Shiels felt Saturday's victory was further pay-back for the win that secured the champions the title at Rugby Park last term.

He said: "I'm really happy because it's been on my mind since last May and I've been hurting inside and so have the players.

"When you watch Rangers coming to Kilmarnock and, after seven minutes, I see my supporters walking down the steps and leaving the ground... I thought to myself that I'll never be able to pay them back.

"To have them come to our patch and beat us to win the championship was fantastic for Rangers but it was really hard for our supporters to take.

"Now we've done the double over Rangers for the first time ever as an SPL club and hopefully that has gone some way towards paying them back."