WHEN he is not being hauled off the park for his own good by his management team, Ian Black is being booed off it by his own supporters.

It seems fair to say that patience is wearing thin around Ibrox with the 29-year-old midfielder, who no doubt finds it unfair that he has never quite been forgiven for the small matter of betting against his own team.

Anyone who attended Rangers' 2-1 home loss to Raith Rovers in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup will testify to that. When the substitutes' board was raised 14 minutes from time to signify that Black was being replaced by Andy Murdoch, rare cheers echoed around a largely deserted stadium.

When he failed to get off the park quickly enough for the fans' liking, though, that quickly turned into a cascade of vitriol.

Gordon Durie was quick to give him a consoling pat when he arrived back in the dug-out and offered further support yesterday when appearing in front of the media in place of Kenny McDowall.

Both men, of course, removed Black from the action after 34 minutes of their first game in charge - a 4-0 hammering at Easter Road - and have refused to confirm whether he will be in the starting line-up for tonight's return visit of Hibernian.

McDowall made it clear Black has to grow up and lose the chip on his shoulder after that humiliation in Leith. Durie believes he has taken the advice contained within a badly-needed pep talk on board.

"He got himself a wee bit entangled early doors (against Hibs)," said Durie. "It was just one of those things that we did because we felt it was right at the time.

"We have spoken to him and he knows it himself. It's important we keep 11 men on the pitch, whatever game we play. This game is just the same."

Durie has raised eyebrows by expressing the view that Hibernian are the best football team in the SPFL Championship, even though Hearts remain a country mile ahead of both them and Rangers.

He claims the starting 11 for their visit has not been chosen and that Black cannot be guaranteed a game. Leaving him out would certainly be welcomed within the rank and file of supporters whose response to his substitution against Raith was as withering a verdict on his overall contribution as one could possibly imagine.

"To be fair to Blacky, he never hides in games," said Durie. "He'll be disappointed, but he won't be the first or the last to get a bit of stick from his own supporters.

"I think Kenny has maybe spoken to him. Listen, it is never nice, but they are professionals and will get on with it. It's great when they get praise and they have to take the other side of it as well.

"I've been booed a few times by punters, but fans pay their money and have their opinion. You just have to roll up your sleeves again and give it 100 per cent, which I'm sure Blacky will do."

Black is one of many players out of contract this summer. It appears highly unlikely he will be offered a new one. Durie says all the right things when asked if he has the characteristics required to handle being a Rangers player, but his refusal to deal in specifics is unconvincing.

He says everyone at the club has got the right character. This, of course, is patent balderdash.

"Everyone here has got it or they wouldn't be here," he said. "They are all good players."

Kyle Hutton was the man who replaced Black during that humbling afternoon at Easter Road and insists his team-mate has not allowed last Sunday's abuse to get to him.

"It's not nice at all for that to happen to any player, so I did feel for him, but he is a strong character and he'll bounce back," said Hutton. "He won't let that mess with his head too much. He was back in training this week and he was flying."

With another supporters' protest planned prior to tonight's match and all bets off on how many people will actually go through the turnstiles, it is easy to assume that Ibrox, itself, is becoming a problem for a Rangers team in danger of descending into freefall after losing five times in nine games.

"They are professionals and it should be a release to go out on the pitch, play and forget about what is going on off the pitch," said Durie. "I hope they can do that against Hibs.

"I would probably say they are the best football team we have played against this year. Hearts are 19 points clear, but I think, football-wise, Hibs are the best team we have played."

In a day with no shortage of surprising statements, Hutton insisted the team spirit at Rangers right now is "as good as I have ever known it". He has to say that. What about the fact there are five loan players from Newcastle United who, according to McDowall, have to be placed in the team when they are fit?

"It's hard not to lose the head, but you just need keep concentrating and focused on being professional," he replied.

The general meeting in which Dave King will attempt to overthrow the current board is now just over two weeks away. Should there be a change in the powerbase, Durie, the former Under-20s coach, hopes he will keep his job.

"I would love to still be involved one way or another if a new regime comes in," he said. "That is for a few weeks down the line, though."