Ally McCoist admits he has no idea whether he will have a future at Rangers if a proposed takeover goes through in the coming months.
The Ibrox number two was expected to move into the hotseat when Walter Smith eventually quits but he knows a new owner could change everything.
Rangers confirmed earlier this week that principal shareholder Murray International Holdings has begun discussions with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis about a takeover of the Glasgow club.
And, when asked if such a scenario would determine whether he stays beyond the end of what could be a treble-winning season, McCoist said: "I would think it must. Definitely.
"I'm sure if I was buying a football club, I would take a great interest in who I was having run it and I would expect whoever takes over Rangers to do the exact same.
"They might want their own people in or they might want the people who are in to stay in. We won't know until that time arises.
"I would certainly say, from our own point of view, a big indicator would be who takes over and when they take over."
Smith and his backroom staff have been working without contracts since January, while some players who are out of contract in the summer have yet to commit to new deals amid uncertainty surrounding the club.
McCoist added: "One or two of the players have contracts up at the end of the season and it's very, very difficult for them in the current climate.
"They are in the same boat as the coaching and managerial staff. It's not ideal but that's life and we just have to get on with it."
But the Rangers assistant manager believes lack of information about events behind the scenes has allowed the players and coaching staff to focus fully on what is happening on the pitch, as they prepare to host Dundee United in the Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final this weekend.
He said: "One of the bonuses of the potential takeover is that the players know nothing about it and we know nothing about it.
"All we know is there has been media speculation and interest from one or two parties in taking over the club.
"If that happens, that's fantastic. We pray they have the best interests of the club at heart and I'm sure they will have.
"But there has certainly been no talk because we don't know enough about it to talk about it."
Madjid Bougherra is one player tipped to leave Rangers this summer but has again reiterated his desire to remain with the Scottish champions.
McCoist said: "It's like anything else, you create a monster if things are going well, your players are playing well and your team is looking good.
"Players like Madjid have been fantastic this season and it's only natural that clubs would show an interest and want to buy them.
"From our point of view, we hope he stays - we hope they all stay - because we are not really in a position to off-load players. It would be great if he stayed."
Meanwhile, Kirk Broadfoot has refused to be rushed into making a decision over his own future at Rangers after being offered a new deal.
"I don't know what is going to happen with my future," the full-back said.
"We are in talks just now and we will see what happens. I've been made an offer and I'm thinking about it.
"I won't rush into it, I'll take my time and do what's best for my future. I'll take as long as I need to take.
"To leave a club like Rangers would be hard. It's massive and the domestic situation means you are more or less challenging for everything.
"There's also a chance to play in Europe. It would be a hard club to leave but you have to look after yourself and I'm sure everyone has their own agenda.
"I've always said I would like to stay at Rangers. But it is my career and my future and I'll take my time to think about it."
