McCoist hopes Rangers retain Boyd

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has been razor sharp in front of goal this season

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist hopes the club can convince in-form striker Kris Boyd to remain at Ibrox.

Boyd, 26, is out of contract in the summer and English Championship outfit Middlesbrough are reportedly interested in the SPL's all-time leading scorer.

"We would be crazy if we didn't want to keep our top goalscorer. The man is on fire at the moment," said McCoist.

"But his contract is up and he can exercise the right to speak to other clubs or speak to us about re-signing."

Birmingham City, who failed to land Boyd for £3.75m last January, are also thought to be interested in the former Kilmarnock forward.

Boyd has been in impressive form this season and his goals have helped Rangers edge ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the SPL table.

Last month he broke Henrik Larsson's SPL goals record when he netted five times in the 7-1 demolition of Dundee United.

And McCoist knows Boyd is worth his weight in gold.

I'd love to see Kris Boyd stay at Rangers and hopefully break more records

Rangers assistant manager
Ally McCoist

"I hear all the fans saying they want Boydy to stay but I just hope that they appreciate we are the exact same," the Rangers assistant manager said.

"I can speak for the rest of the coaches and the management when I say we all want Kris to stay and hopefully we can sort out a deal.

"I'd love to see him stay at Rangers and, hopefully, break more records and continue the way he is at the moment."

However, McCoist was reluctant to say whether losing Boyd in the January transfer window could prove fatal to their chances of retaining the SPL title.

"It would be very unfair of me to say that if we lose one player we will lose the title," he added.

"It would be disrespectful to the rest of the players who have been on top form in what has been a great run recently."

McCoist said he would not be keen to see the Ibrox squad depleted in the current transfer window.

"We are just the same as any other football club. If someone picks up the phone and puts an offer in for one of your players, you have to listen and you have to talk to the player.

"Then you have decisions to make. Does the player want to go? Do you want the player to go? All these things have to be taken into account.

"All I would say is that we don't have a big squad at the moment.

"The phone can ring but, personally speaking, I wouldn't be too keen on selling anybody.