Ally McCoist insists he has not been left frustrated by Dave King's failure to push through a Rangers rescue deal.

Former oldco director King has headed back to South Africa after talks on a £16million investment plan broke down without an agreement.

The Castlemilk-born millionaire held discussions with the Ibrox board - but crucially did not get the thumbs from the those holding the "power" at the club.

King, backed by former Blue Knight Paul Murray and wealthy fan George Letham, was looking for a controlling stake in the League One champions in return for his cash injection but needed the approval of Sandy Easdale, the club's football-board chairman who controls around 26 per cent of the shares.

That backing did not come, while he was snubbed by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who has an 8.92 per cent stake in the Light Blues.

King insists he has not given up hope but the chances of a deal emerging before the end of the year, when Rangers will run out of money, look slim.

Ashley could step in to provide emergency funding to keep Rangers afloat in the short term, the Daily Record reported on Friday.

Last week, McCoist had urged King and Ashley - who already controls Rangers' retail division and holds the naming rights to the stadium - to work together.

But the Rangers manager denied the breakdown of these latest talks was a blow to him personally.

McCoist said: "I know Dave said he was still hopeful of getting a deal done but I don't think we are any further on in terms of information to where that will take us.

"I read Dave's statement but I will wait on the outcome.

"There have been no final talks or a yes or no about where we are going.

"It looks as though things will linger on - it doesn't look like it will be sorted this week, that's for sure.

"But I'm not frustrated in any shape or form. With what has been happening at the club over the last two or three years, we have got a mentality now that we expect anything.

"So I'm not frustrated - far from it. I'm extremely motivated and so are my players."

Meanwhile, McCoist defended midfielder Fraser Aird's "tongue-in-cheek" comments about promotion rivals Hearts and Hibs.

Rangers have a chance to close the gap on Robbie Neilson's Scottish Championship-leading Jambos to six points on Saturday when they face Dumbarton.

The Gorgie men are not in action until the following day when they travel across Edinburgh to face their city neighbours at Easter Road.

But despite the Edinburgh derby being screened on BT Sport, winger Aird says he will be tuned in to Sky Sports.

"I probably won't watch the derby," said the teenager. "Chelsea are playing Man U so I'm looking forward that. I think that's a better game to look forward to.

"I have a few mates that play for [Hearts] and I always go and check their results. But if they are playing on the TV and there is nothing else on, I'd probably go and watch Coronation Street before I do that."

McCoist had to warn defender Bilel Mohsni about his pre-match comments after the Tunisian wrote off Hibs' title chances just days before Alan Stubbs' men stunned Rangers with a 3-1 win in Glasgow.

But this time McCoist said: "The wee man is entitled to his opinion. I would personally prefer to watch any game of football than Coronation Street but I would imagine his words were said a little bit tongue-in-cheek."

Meanwhile, McCoist has no fresh injuries for the Scottish Championship clash with Dumbarton at the Bet Butler Stadium on Saturday.

Defender Marius Zaliukas (knee) and goalkeeper Cammy Bell (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.

Centre-back Bilel Mohsni is also suspended.

Provisional squad: Simonsen, Wallace, McGregor, Shiels, McCulloch, Macleod, Clark, Law, Black, Templeton, Peralta, Boyd, Smith, Robinson, Faure, Miller, Crawford, Daly, Foster, Aird, Hardie.