Rangers have sacked manager Pedro Caixinha after just seven months in charge at the Ibrox club.

Caixinha's contract was terminated after Rangers directors held an emergency meeting on Thursday morning, hours after the side drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock. Managing director Stewart Robertson delivered the news to Caixinha in person.

The draw in the Premiership match followed defeat in the League Cup semi-final at the hands of Motherwell on Sunday.

Following the 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Wednesday, Caixinha insisted he would fight on as manager.

Rangers chairman Dave King and his directors decided not to continue with the Portuguese boss in the dugout, however, and will now begin a search for a new manager. It's understood that the club had a contingency plan in place to fund Caixinha's financial settlement.

The club confirmed that Caixinha's backroom staff will also leave the club, with Graeme Murty taking charge as caretaker boss. STV understands that coach Jonatan Johansson will stay on to assist Murty.

Caixinha was appointed as successor to Mark Warburton in March, signing a three-year deal after Rangers paid Qatari club Al Gharafa compensation to release him from his contract.

The Ibrox club finished third in the league, 39 points behind Celtic, who inflicted a 5-1 defeat on Caixinha's side at Ibrox to give him an unwanted Rangers record early in his tenure.

A summer overhaul of the playing squad brought 11 players into Ibrox, with the manager backed financially to recruit from Mexico and Portugal as well as bringing in British players.

The new season began early with Europa League qualifying but Rangers suffered an embarrassing early exit at the hands of Luxembourg's Progres Niederkorn.

Caixinha failed to win three consecutive games during his tenure and his management and recruitment had been questioned.

After defeat to Celtic in the first Glasgow derby of the season, details emerged of unrest in the dressing room.

Veteran forward Kenny Miller was sent to play with the youth side and has not featured for the first team since, while the player's agent insisted Miller was not the source of "leaks" from within the club.

Results and performances were inconsistent but pressure increased after the 2-0 loss to Motherwell at Hampden on Sunday.

After initially saying the defeat was entirely his responsibility, he then claimed the players had "embarrassed" the club and their fans and challenged them to show their quality and commitment against Kilmarnock.

Despite holding a first-half lead, Rangers missed a late penalty against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night and then conceded a late equaliser.

It prompted the club's directors to consider his position and conclude a change had to be made.

Rangers will look to appoint a permanent manager as Caixinha's successor rather than make an interim appointment. Director of football Mark Allen will be involved in finding the right candidate but it's understood that Dave King will have greater input than he had in naming Caixinha as the club's manager in March.