Ally McCoist has hit back at Charles Green after the chief executive again insisted the current Rangers team are the worst side in their history.

The Ibrox manager guided his side to one of their best displays of the campaign at Hampden yesterday, the Irn-Bru Third Division champions dismantling Queen's Park 4-1. However, he was irked by Green again suggesting, in a newspaper interview on the morning of the game, that his manager has assembled the worst side in the club's history.

McCoist launched a robust defence of his side after they moved 24 points clear at the top. "I'm disappointed at the reflection being taken off the team over the period," he said. "I've been told again today that it's the worst Rangers team in history. It's really surprising. This is the best Rangers team Charles has ever seen as he's relatively new to Rangers. He knows the job he's got to do and we've all got to do. In my opinion, it's not the worst Rangers team. I'm not sure how many titles Charles has won in his career but I've been very fortunate enough to win 14, including as assistant manager."

McCoist admitted that it had been one of the hardest of his 14 title successes. "I know what it takes to win a title. It doesn't matter what division you're in, it takes a special group of people and talent and hard work to win titles. We've got a group who were assembled in the space of about six or seven days and have managed to win a title and they're 24 points clear.

"I would have thought everyone could maybe take a wee step back and offer some congratulations to those boys because I'm certainly doing that. They were asked to win a league and they've won.

"I make no apologies for repeating myself. We lost 30-odd players, we didn't have a squad, six players turned up for pre-season and four left. We assembled a squad of players who weren't allowed to play a pre-season game. We assembled a group of players to win a division that we didn't know because we hadn't been in it before. So have they done the job? You better believe they've done the job."

Rangers comfortably won at Hampden thanks to a double from David Templeton and goals from Fraser Aird and Kane Hemmings. But the win was overshadowed by yet more undignified blows being traded between Green and former owner Craig Whyte.

McCoist held a meeting with Green over the latest Whyte claims and the manager insists he still has faith in his chief executive. He revealed: "I've had a meeting with Charles, it lasted well over an hour, and it was absolutely fine, absolutely constructive. We're obviously in the same boat, we both want the club to move forward. That is the priority for me and it has never changed, the club must move forward and we're both of the opinion that is going to the case."

Templeton said off-the-park issues had not overshadowed their title triumph. "Obviously, you see it, but as players we have got to concentrate and go in and train as hard as you can and do the same on the pitch and try to make sure we play as well as we can. I am sure the off-field stuff will take care of itself," he said.

"We'll take care of things on the pitch and I'm sure they will take care of things off it. We've just got to concentrate and put on a show for the fans. It's most of the boys' first title and for me as well, it's an unbelievable feeling and nothing is going to get me in a downer."