The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: The latest on the Rangers takeover as administrators prepare to name a preferred bidder; West Brom bid for Steven Naismith rejected; Hibs MD to stand down; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

RANGERS TAKEOVER DEADLINE DAY

• Joint administrator David Whitehouse expects there to be at least four bids tabled from interested parties by the deadline of 5pm for “best and final” bids for the Ibrox club. (Scotsman)

• Blue Knights, headed by former Rangers director Paul Murray, and a Singapore-based group are expected to table bids. Brian Kennedy, the owner of rugby union side Sale Sharks, is also believed to be considering making another bid. (Scotsman)

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• Kennedy will only launch a bid for Rangers if the Blue Knights consortium fail to win control of the club, because he fears the prospect of liquidation by another rival bidder. He said: “The prospect of newco frightens the living hell out of me.” (Record)

• Chicago-based firm Club 9 Sports have distanced themselves from buying Rangers via a statement on their website. They confirm that they were involved in a consortium looking at buying Rangers but said they themselves would not be bidding for control of the club. (Various)

• However, the American consortium could emerge as the favourites to buy Rangers, owing to the “substantial resources” reportedly at their disposal. (Express)

• And Paul Murray fears his bid will be unsuccessful because he believes the American consortium will emerge as frontrunners today. He said: “Since the weekend the administrator has almost been preparing the field to come to the conclusion of liquidation. I really don’t know why that is. Maybe he sees Club 9 as being the preferred bidder.” (Sun)

• Singapore-based businessman Bill Ng, who is hoping his consortium will be named the preferred bidder for Rangers, says he does not want to liquidate the club. (Record)

• Rangers’ administrators Duff and Phelps hope to be in a position to confirm “an exit strategy” for the club after the Easter weekend. (Scotsman)

• And Duff and Phelps are to present a report to the club’s creditors today and will ask them to vote on a series of proposals. All creditors will have the opportunity to vote on the proposals, with a deadline of noon on 20 April set for votes to be cast. (Various)

• Rangers won’t be allowed to compete in Europe next season despite the administrators claiming they submitted a UEFA club licence application before the March 31 deadline. The Ibrox club failed to meet two requirements in the guidelines by failing to produce audited accounts and not meeting an outstanding tax bill. (Record)

Rangers reject bid for Naismith

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Rangers administrators have turned down West Brom’s initial bid for Steven Naismith. The Scotland striker can leave on the cheap after accepting a 75 per cent wage cut, but Duff and Phelps decided the bid was not in the best interests of the club. It is expected that Roy Hodgson will make a renewed offer, and is also interested in goalkeeper Allan McGregor. (Sun)

Hibs MD to quit

Hibernian have announced that managing director Fife Hyland will leave the club at the end of the season. A statement on the club website explained that Hyland informed chairman Rod Petrie last year of his intention to quit at the end of the current campaign, despite the fact that he was only appointed to the position of managing director last summer as part of a restructuring at board level. (Scotsman)

Saints director defends himself

St Mirren director Ken McGeoch claims shareholders deserve the chance to debate his position after he refused to resign amid a dispute with the club’s ruling group. McGeoch, said: “The EGM is very important business for the football club and I honestly believe the shareholders have a right to attend a meeting on such an important part of the football club’s business.” (Various)

• Falkirk defender Tam Scobbie is ready to leave the club at the end of the season. (Express)

• Daryl Murphy says that he expects to return to Celtic when his season-long loan deal at Ipswich Town expires. (Herald)

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