Rangers takeover: How crisis lurched from bad to worse in three months

13 FEBRUARY: Rangers lodge their intention to go into administration at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Owner Craig Whyte says the bill for the major tax case over the use of Employee Benefit Trusts under Sir David Murray could amount to £75 million.

13 FEBRUARY: Rangers lodge their intention to go into administration at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Owner Craig Whyte says the bill for the major tax case over the use of Employee Benefit Trusts under Sir David Murray could amount to £75 million.

14 February: Rangers appoint administrators Duff & Phelps after a court battle with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. They are docked ten points by the Scottish Premier League, leaving them 14 behind Celtic. Duff & Phelps reveals that HMRC lodged its petition to take Rangers into administration over the non-payment of about £9m PAYE and VAT since Whyte’s 2011 takeover.

16 February: Administrators reveal “several expressions of interest from parties not connected to the club” and express concerns over Whyte’s running of the club.

17 February: The Scottish Football Association launches an independent inquiry into the activities of Rangers, specifically whether Whyte is “fit and proper” to hold a position in the game.

21 February: It is confirmed the club’s £18m bank debt was paid off with future season ticket money from Ticketus.

23 February: Rangers director of football Gordon Smith and chief operating officer Ali Russell agree to leave the club

27 February: Rangers are fined £50,000 by the PLUS Stock Exchange for failing to disclose Whyte was previously disqualified as a director.

2 March: SFA confirms it will investigate claims made by former Rangers director Hugh Adam that payments made to players were not disclosed to the governing body.

3 March: Administrators say redundancies are “likely” as Rangers lose 2-1 to Hearts.

7 March: Rangers director Dave King claims liquidation is inevitable. Duff & Phelps announces it is accelerating the sale of the club.

8 March: SFA declares Whyte is unfit to hold a position in football.

4 April: Duff & Phelps confirms it received four bids for the club.

19 April: Brian Kennedy is told his revised verbal bid for Rangers is not “capable of acceptance”.

23 April: Rangers receive a 12-month embargo on signing players and owner Whyte is banned for life as the SFA announces sanctions against club for five rule breaches. Meanwhile, American trucking tycoon Bill Miller moves into pole position in race to gain control of the club

27 APRIL: Kennedy joins forces with Paul Murray.

3 MAY: Miller’s unconditional bid results in him being granted preferred bidder status by Duff & Phelps.

8 MAY: Miller withdraws his bid.