Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he is open to the idea of fans being involved in the running of the club.

Hearts supporters yesterday took a step closer to a takeover of the stricken Edinburgh outfit when the Foundation of Hearts were granted preferred bidder status by administrators.

A fan ownership model is also in place at Portsmouth, after the Pompey Supporters Trust completed its purchase of the club in April.

Like Hearts and Portsmouth, Rangers also endured a difficult period off the pitch when they were forced to call in the administrators in February 2012, before being consigned to liquidation.

A consortium led by Charles Green then purchased the business and assets of the Glasgow giants for £5.5million last summer.

Following yesterday's developments with Hearts, McCoist was today asked for his thoughts on whether a fan ownership model could ever work at Rangers.

He said: "I certainly think it's an option.

"I don't have a 100 per cent view on it but it would be wrong of me to say that the fans shouldn't have a say in the running of the club, especially in the modern times.

"It's something you would need to have a sit-down and a good think about but I certainly wouldn't be against it."

Green resigned as chief executive in April and has recently returned to the club as a consultant.

His future at Rangers will be discussed at a board meeting on Tuesday, with the three main fans groups calling for his removal.

The Yorkshireman has already been involved in a war of words with McCoist since his return, after claiming the manager would have a problem if he fails to win a cup as well as the league this season.

McCoist declined to be drawn on those off-field issues at his pre-match press conference today.

He said: "We will see what happens at the board meeting on Tuesday but Tuesday is miles off. We will look forward to tomorrow's game (against Stranraer) and concentrate on the football. That's my job."