Rangers manager Walter Smith is exasperated by constant reports of striker Daniel Cousin apparently moving out of Ibrox.

The Gabon international has been linked with a series of clubs since his summer arrival from Lens.

It was thought the recent criticisms he aimed his team-mates with regard to their lifestyles was simply a precursor to his departure.

However, Cousin scored his ninth goal of the season on Wednesday to put the Light Blues four points clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a narrow 2-1 win over Gretna at Fir Park.

And ahead of the trip to Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow, Smith said: "It seems to be a constant theme.

"Clubs can be interested in him if they want and agents can tell people the clubs are interested in him.

"But we've never had anybody enquire about him and even if they did, it doesn't necessarily mean that we would want to get rid of

him.

"So it's a non-issue for me. We can only hope that he can continue to do what he is doing, which is score goals."

Despite Cousin's scoring record, a section of the Ibrox support are yet to be convinced and several were demanding he was substituted on Wednesday before he grabbed the the winner.

But Rangers captain Barry Ferguson made a case for his laid-back team-mate saying: "The fans pay good money so they are right to have their say, but Daniel's scored four goals in three games now so he is doing the business.

"I don't think he'll be leaving us. He's fine, he's not a loner at all and he mixes well with the lads."

Ferguson, 29, was more concerned with maintaining the Ibrox club's four-point lead over Celtic at the top of the table.

He said: ""We've gone two years without a trophy, so there is a hunger and a determination about the dressing room.

"We've gone four points clear but really that is nothing to me.

"Basically, I see a four-point gap as still going neck and neck with Celtic but I'm glad we are the ones that are out in front."

The Scotland midfielder scored his eighth goal of the season against Gretna but insists he is not playing a more attacking role this season.

"If I get 10 goals from midfield, I'll be happy with that," he said.

"People think I'm playing more of a forward role, but that's not the case. Basically, I'm still playing in the centre of a three.

"But it's more Brahim (Hemdani) and Thommo's (Kevin Thomson) role to pick the ball up off the back four, so maybe that's why people think I'm playing more forward."

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