The Rangers manager, who revealed he has not spoken to Craig Whyte, the club's owner, since Monday, admitted his "surprise and disappointment" at the appointment of administrators.

"We must get answers," said McCoist. "The Rangers supporters deserve answers. The administrators have to do their job and hopefully they come up with something."

McCoist, who also revealed Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, had called to offer support, spoke of his duty as Rangers face Kilmarnock on the park today and financial turbulence off it.

"It's a professional and personal obligation I feel I've got," said McCoist, who confirmed Whyte would not attend the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at Ibrox.

"I am 100% aware of my responsibilities to this club right now. This is the most important thing in my life at the moment. I have 100% focus to give the supporters what they want – which is giving them their club back."

He accepted the very future of the club was in peril but added: "I am deeply worried and concerned. But I will be 100% honest. I am really positive. As black a few days as we have had, I think Saturday will see the real Rangers start marching towards the light at the end of that tunnel."

He said he had been lifted by the attitude of the players whose "only concern" had been for the staff at the club. McCoist, who said that any wage cuts or redundancies among his playing staff had not been discussed as yet, had also been moved by the backing the club had received.

"We have had some incredible support in the past few days. We have had the backing of fans, not just from all over Scotland or Britain but from all over the world. It's even come from the world of politics with David Cameron and Alex Salmond getting behind the institution that is Rangers," he said.

He also received a phone call from an illustrious former Rangers player. "Sir Alex just offered encouragement for everyone, for the workforce. Sir Alex hasn't been through it but, like a lot of the managers who have, he knows it is about more than the team. It is about the football club."