Rangers chairman Walter Smith is on the brink of quitting his post at the club following days of bitter infighting at Ibrox.

The former manager has already indicated to some within the club that he will definitely walk away if boss Ally McCoist is forced out and he may even go as early as this week.

McCoist reacted with fury after former chief executive Charles Green returned to the club as a paid consultant and indicated the manager's position could be under threat.

Green was quoted in a national newspaper saying that McCoist's position might not be safe even if he delivered the League One title - he also reiterated his claim that the current Rangers squad is the worst in the club's history.

McCoist described Green's behaviour as appalling and insisted the man, who stepped down back in April, was an embarrassment to the club.

It is now clear that the pair will not work together and one will have to go before the club can make any attempt to move forward.

That has led to Smith indicating that he may have to step down from the position he has held since May.

The bust-up came just hours after the current chief executive Craig Mather hit out at a group of shareholders who have made steps to remove him from his position.

The group, thought to be led by Scottish businessman Jim McColl, want the removal of Mather and fellow directors Brian Stockbridge and Bryan Smart.

Mather, who has only been in the position permanently since last month, called the move ill-timed and ill-informed.

Some within the club also believe that the rival faction's attempts to wrestle control also leaves the chairman exposed.

Smith was involved in a takeover attempt with McColl last year and will not back Mather in denouncing the attempts force boardroom change.