Rangers boss Ally McCoist insists Craig Gordon was offered a deal to sign for the club

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has refuted Craig Gordon’s claims that the club did not offer him a contract during the summer.

McCoist was speaking after watching his side advance to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win against Dumbarton.

Gordon spent two years out of the game after leaving Sunderland due to knee and wrist injuries but has returned to form after signing for Rangers’ bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic.

The goalkeeper spent time training with Rangers last season as he was recovering from his injuries but he maintains he was never offered a deal to sign for the Ibrox outfit.

"The possibility of me joining Rangers was talked about but nothing was ever finalised or offered," Gordon said.

McCoist angrily denied that claim and stated Gordon was definitely offered a deal by Rangers.

"Questions were getting asked about our club regarding big Craig Gordon,” McCoist said.

"It is quite right the press should ask the question but what you do need to know is that we did offer Craig Gordon a contract.

"I have been put in a position by the press today where there was a question mark over myself and my staff for not offering a contract to a very good player.

"I gave Craig the opportunity to use our facilities, to use our physiotherapist, our goalkeeping coach.

"I haven't heard from Craig Gordon since but I can assure you an offer was made to Craig Gordon and his representative."

Kris Boyd’s strike on the stroke of half-time was enough to help Rangers beat Dumbarton but McCoist admitted his team need to learn how to close out games after missing a host of second-half chances.

"We could do with killing teams off to make things a little more comfortable for us,” McCoist said.

"But Dumbarton were the toughest team we could have got in the draw in terms of their ranking so it is a good victory.

"They also deserve credit for the way they changed things after last week, switching to a back three with five in midfield.

"They were a lot more solid and Lee Robinson did well with two good saves.

"When you don't score the second you always run the risk of making things difficult for yourself."