Rangers manager Ally McCoist has clarified confusion over the decision to sell Nikica Jelavic to Everton.

The Croatian striker left for Goodison Park on transfer deadline day in a £5m move.

The player said he would have been happy to stay in Glasgow, only for the club’s chief operating officer, Ali Russell, to claim Jelavic had engineered his own exit.

When questioned whether Jelavic had asked him to leave the club, McCoist replied: “No he didn't, not at all. I have a wonderful relationship with Nikica. He never said that.

“It has been very well documented that Nikica has had big ambitions to play in the English Premier League. He's away down there now to Everton and we wish him all the very best.

“He was wonderful for us for the period he was here. Sorry to see him to go, but everyone at the club offers their best wishes.”

McCoist also insists he understood the club’s decision to sell the player and says Jelavic leaves with the best wishes of everyone at Ibrox.

“We received a bid from Everton which Craig [Whyte] found acceptable. Therefore business was done.

“He probably would have [wanted to stay]. Like any business, any asset - if you receive an offer which is to the benefit of the club - you maybe think about doing that.

“That's certainly been the case. There's maybe been a little bit too much made of it. There's absolutely no ill feeling between any of us and Nikica.

“I can understand Craig's situation a lot better. I know the financial situation at the club isn't good.

“It's been well documented that if a suitable offer came in for any player, it would be accepted.

“This wasn't news to me. As disappointed as I was to see Nikica go, Craig's only made that decision for the benefit of the club financially in terms of the running of the club.”