Celtic v Rangers: Alex McLeish braced himself for the axe as Rangers manager when he was summoned for crisis talks with chairman David Murray.

The Ibrox boss has revealed how he spent last weekend preparing for the news that he no longer had a job ahead of the meeting in Edinburgh on Monday.

The Scottish champions are 12 points behind Celtic and Hearts in the Scottish Premier League and he feared the dismal League Cup defeat to their Old Firm rivals 10 days ago would be the final nail in the coffin.

McLeish was instead handed a stay of execution and told his position would be reviewed again in early December, meaning he has the daunting task of transforming the club's fortunes in their next three games.

Away trips to Celtic and Hibernian in the SPL flank a crucial Champions League match against Porto.

McLeish claims at no time did he ever consider walking away from Rangers even when he thought his job was under threat.

But, asked whether he thought his meeting with Murray would end with him picking up his P45, McLeish replied: "Well, I'm sure it went through my head at some stage - just about every hour of the day for the previous three or four days before that.

"It was always in my head but, when the chairman made the phone call to Hibs four years ago, I said to him I was ready to manage Rangers and that I felt I was the right man for the job at that time. I still feel I'm the right man for the job and I told him that at the meeting."

Speaking of his decision to accept the challenge, the Rangers boss added: "I'll certainly be there fighting, which is the reason why I accepted the fight.

"I would totally regret having walked away from here. I know I would. I know my own mind and the type of person I am.

"I'm grateful, not for the opportunity, because, as the chairman said, I deserve that.

"But I'm grateful that I'm the manager of Rangers and I would love to continue to be the manager of Rangers."

McLeish admits not everyone at the club shares his views, indicating he does not have the support of the entire dressing room, despite the public backing of several of his players.

He said: "I don't want to say the dressing room backs me because there will always be one or two players looking for a wee change. That happens everywhere."

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists he will not be intimidated by external influences.

Strachan has guided his team to the top of the table after a disappointing start to the season and claims he is unaware of the pressure McLeish is under because he refuses to take notice of anyone outside of Parkhead.

He said: "We just quietly get on with it. I don't take notice of the media anyway.

"That is a fantasy world. I deal with reality. It is not my concern what people are saying.

"I don't know what anyone is going through because I don't read papers, listen to radio or watch television.

"If I put the news programme on and the sport comes on, I get a fright. I try and keep away from it.

"I protect myself against it. (In the past) I saw what was being said, so I had to take action which would protect me against that.

"I ignored everything so I could deal with reality. It is really easy to do that - like giving up tea and coffee.

"If you get past the first couple of days, then it is no problem and easy.

"Some people say you might be interested in what people have to say, but I am not."

But Strachan admits external influences can have a catalytic effect on his players.

He added: "Sometimes, the players might use criticism as anger to run faster.

"I would be worried if that made them play better because I would want to know why they had not been playing like that in the first place. "