ALLY McCoist last night accepted his hopes of luring Christophe Berra to Rangers were over after an npower Championship club entered the chase to sign the Scotland internationalist.

The Rangers manager had spoken to Berra, who is a free agent after being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of last season, and his representative last week about joining the Ibrox club.

However, it now seems likely that the former Hearts player will return to England instead. "The deal for Christophe Berra is now off; there is nothing in that at all," said McCoist, whose side began their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 win over Highland League club Brora Rangers yesterday. "I think he is going to go down to a Championship club."

McCoist, though, confirmed that he has spoken to Boris Pandza – the Bosnian centre-back recommended to him by the former Rangers player Sasa Papac – about moving to Scotland, while the manager was also left encouraged by the display of Belil Mohsni, a French-Tunisian defender, who played as a trialist at Dudgeon Park yesterday alongside six players whom Rangers have signed already this season.

The Glasgow side reportedly face competition for the former Southend United and Ipswich Town player from Barclays Premier League side West Ham United, but the desire to land a centre-back grew yesterday as Ross Perry was stretchered off with a serious ankle ligament injury during the win over Brora.

"It looks like Ross has gone over on his ankle and damaged the ligaments," said McCoist. "The club is still taking to Pandza's agent and I have spoken to the player. There's still a long way to go, but he is a player we are interested in. I was very happy with Belil; he came in and played alongside Emilson Cribari. There was a bit of experience there; he looked very comfortable in the first half.

"When Ross got injured Belil steadied the ship. There is every chance we could play him against Elgin on Wednesday night. He has fitted in with the lads and is enjoying himself. That is something that we will take forward.

"I spoke to Paul Sturrock who worked with him at Southend. He has given him great reports. I also spoke to Sam Allardyce at West Ham and Ian Holloway at Crystal Palace. They know him too."

McCoist – whose side won yesterday following two goals in the second half from Lewis Macleod and which included new arrivals Cammy Bell, Nicky Clark, Jon Daly, Ricky Foster, Nicky Law and Stevie Smith – also dismissed reports that Anestis Argyriou, Cribari, Perry and Kyle Hutton have all been told that they can look for other clubs.

"That's news to me," he said. "There's been nothing said to me and nothing is concrete. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks. I'd like to think there would be movement in and out of the club."