BBC Scotland football pundit Craig Paterson

"The home side look sharper out of the blocks."

Gavin Reilly slides in to meet John Baird's low delivery across the Rangers six yard box and is a fraction away from an early opener. At the other end Jon Daly heads wide Fraser Aird's cross in a crowded Queens box.

Richard Foster makes an early foray down the left for Rangers as the match begins sprightly.

Kenny Miller and Nicky Law kick off the match at Palmerston.

Queen of the South are in their customary blue shirts while Rangers are in red.

Richard Wilson
BBC Scotland

"The staff who lost their jobs were not high earners - among them were the long-standing secretary to the manager and a groundsman - and McCoist came to feel that he should hand in his own notice.

"He is aware that some board members have long wanted him replaced, and McCoist wanted to take the initiative himself, rather than wait for others to eventually decide his fate. If the board keep him in place, McCoist is comfortable with the challenge of trying to gain promotion and remains confident he can guide the team to that ambition."

Ally McCoist made just one change to his side with Jon Daly replacing Kris Boyd up front. Lee Wallace was expected to return from an ankle knock but personal matters saw him miss out for the fourth game running.

We're six minutes away from kick-off in Dumfries.

Hmm, this is a bizarre scenario. Ally McCoist "hopes" this will not be his last match in charge? A change of heart? Unlikely. A desire to stay in post for a final year to work his notice? Perhaps.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist tells BT Sport: "I've been completely focused on the game tonight." He says he has "no idea" if this will be his last match in charge for Rangers. "I hope not," he adds. "My job is to get a team ready. I can assure the Rangers fans I'm 100% committed to getting Rangers into the top flight. I'll continue in my job and hopefully get them back into the top flight. We firmly believe we can put pressure on Hearts."

Anonymous: "Hearts came down from the top division and finished last season well, Rangers came up from the bottom, that was always going to be important. I'm a Celtic fan who thinks McCoist has handled the whole thing brilliantly. He should stay."

Queen of the South: Alexander Clark, Dowie, Durnan, Higgins, Holt, Carmichael, Kerr, McShane, Russell, Baird, Reilly. Subs: Kidd, Paton, Dzierzawski, Lyle, Atkinson, Hooper, Kiltie.

Rangers: Simonsen, McGregor, McCulloch, Mohsni, Foster, Law, Aird, Black, Shiels, Miller, Daly. Subs: Smith, Templeton, Clark, Boyd, Faure, Hutton, Robinson.

Referee: Andrew Dallas

John Mac, a Celtic supporter: "I think Ally has done a decent job the last few years given what he had to work with, the man's an idol, blame the owners, probably Ashley. You are a legend in Scottish football, Ally."

Liam, Bathgate: "Honestly, it's like Groundhog Day with you guys. Rangers have no money and WILL NEVER be the same club again. They will need 100 million plus just to even steady the ship. They need 8 million to survive a year, if, and there is a huge opportunity they won't, Rangers don't go up they will not survive it's simple. Ally knows this and knows people are now losing jobs as the club continue to ship money. Until the mainstream media open their eyes and see Rangers for what they are, a dying carcass, the game in Scotland will never get better. Less than 20000 on Saturday, a squad filled with ageing anti stars and a boardroom filled with charlatans, why do you still continue to make the entirely predictable, newsworthy? Flogging a dead horse springs to mind."

Anonymous: "Re Sandy MacKenzie/Dougie Kinnear/Jim Shaw, do you actually believe that any money Ally waived would go to help others less fortunate!! Dream on. His settlement won't be what brings the club down, the boardroom mismanagement is the cause. Ironically I think Neil Lennon will empathise with Ally as the c**p being spouted is similar to what he endured. So-called lifelong fans should hang their heads in shame not shake them in bewilderment with the statements they're making."

Image source, SNS

Rangers fans greeted Ally McCoist warmly in Dumfries this evening.

The adverse weather has claimed tomorrow's Scottish League Two match between Elgin City and Berwick Rangers. It has been postponed.

Image source, SNS

Ally McCoist was with the team on the club coach as it arrived at Palmerston Park in Dumfries.

Charlie, Glasgow: "Ally McCoist is a very rich man, if he is holding out for compensation it is a disgrace!"

Andy D in Killie: "Ally a Rangers man. Hypocrisy - he pays top dollar for players to beat part timers, earns ridiculous amount of wages then crocodile tears at redundancies. Ally is culpable and shame on you so-called journalists for not calling him out on it. You are too craven to read this out."

Anonymous: "This is a two fingers to the board, Ally is showing his poker face, either get rid of me now and pay me off, or let me do my job til the season end. I for one can't blame him. Sometimes things are more important than the on-field action. A manager who has been taken for a ride and held the club together by himself for far too long has finally had enough. Who can blame him?"

Chick Young
BBC Sport at Palmerston

"I don't think this was on his mind a few days ago. I think something has happened. The whole inside of Rangers has changed. I think he has reached a crossroads and it's a call-your-bluff situation. There are more questions than answers with this story."

Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson

"He's been spooked by something. Something has pushed his buttons and he has reacted to it. The pressure you come under as an Old firm manager is intense. Is Mike Ashley trying to have an input into the football side of things? Something must have happened behind the scenes with interference. Ally is a shrewd character. With Ally handing in his notice, how do you motivate the players? Some of the guys on the pitch tonight will be out of contract in the summer. Some of the players might down tools."

Former Rangers captain Craig Paterson

"I was genuinely surprised at the news. I did not see it coming. You wonder what has happened behind the scenes that has made him make this decision. Maybe they are targeting his area to make savings at the club. The onus is now on the board of directors to make some sort of financial settlement to allow Ally and the club to move on."