Antonov says no Rangers contact has been made

Controversial Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov has played down suggestions he is poised to become the saviour of Rangers.

A source close to the tycoon - a banker with apparently large cash reserves - admitted he is looking at investing in "a football asset in Britain". He made clear, however, that there were no negotiations underway with the Glasgow club. "Speaking generally, it is just an idea as yet, but such an idea does exist," the source told Kommersant, a Moscow newspaper.

At the weekend it was reported the banking tycoon was behind a new 75 million takeover bid for debt-ridden Rangers. He was said to be providing funds to Andrew Ellis who was at an "advanced stage" in making a second offer for the Ibrox club.

Lithuanian bank Snoras - in which Vladimir Antonov has a majority share - is a direct competitor of Hearts' owner Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas.

At the age of just 35, Antonov has attained major business successes in Russia and the Baltic countries yet he has been dogged by allegations that he is linked to organised crime and questions over who stands behind him in his financial dealings.

Britain blocked his bid to open Snoras in the UK complaining it "repeatedly gave misleading and incomplete" answers to the Financial Services Authority regulator.

Meanwhile, Nikica Jelavic's proposed 4m move to Rangers took another twist last night when Rapid Vienna claimed the striker would be playing in Europe against Aston Villa tomorrow.

The long-running transfer saga looked to have concluded on Monday when Rangers chief executive Martin Bain reached an agreement with all parties and the 24-year-old finally agreed to sign.

However, the Austrians backed out at the 11th hour and insisted instead that Jelavic will play against Villa in the first leg of their Europa League play-off because it is too late for them to find a replacement.

An angry Bain described Rapid's U-turn as unacceptable - but still expects to see the player in Glasgow. "We have agreed personal terms with the player having already reached an agreement with Rapid on his transfer fee," said Bain. "But his club have moved the goalposts and this is not acceptable. We expect the player to be in Glasgow in the next 24 hours to undergo a medical."

If Jelavic becomes cup-tied for Walter Smith's Champions League campaign, Rangers would be reluctant to pay 4m for a player who could not be used in Europe. Rapid's sporting director Alfred Hortnagl told the BBC yesterday: "He will be staying with Rapid Vienna ahead of our games against Aston Villa."