Rangers takeover: Brian Kennedy at Ibrox but Bill Miller is favourite

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist last night called on the club’s support to lend their full backing to whoever emerges victorious in the battle to take control at Ibrox.

It is believed a preferred bidder for Rangers could finally be named by administrators today. American businessman Bill Miller had hoped to be given the green light yesterday but the rival bid of Brian Kennedy and the Blue Knights consortium remains in contention.

Sale Sharks owner Kennedy was in the limelight at Ibrox last night as he attended Rangers’ 5-0 SPL victory over Dundee United, despite growing speculation Miller’s £11.2 million offer, which involves Rangers becoming a newly constituted club, had moved into pole position. If successful, it is likely to meet a less than enthusiastic welcome from supporters who had aligned themselves with the Blue Knights, led by former director Paul Murray, and fans demonstrated their feelings at last night’s game by waving banners declaring “Yanks No Thanks”.

“Listen, I can understand the fans’ concerns about everything,” said McCoist. “They are well within their rights to have concerns about anybody who is going to come in and take over the club. But all I would ask for is that they give whoever gets preferred bidder status a chance.

“Everyone has to be given a chance. Whether it’s Bill Miller, or whoever it may be, we would all be wrong to sit and be judge and jury immediately before anything happens. I don’t think we are in a position to be anything other than supportive of someone who will come in and hopefully take the club forward. We’ve got to be supportive of that person or persons.

“People will have their own opinions on things and ideas who they want. But from within the club we just want someone who will come in and give us a little bit of stability again and hopefully take the club forward. If we have to go a couple of steps back first, in order to take the club forward eventually, then so be it. That’s certainly a better proposition than what could be.

“I’ve spoken to Bill on the telephone. I know he’d rather I was sitting looking across the table at him, but it’s not possible at the moment. But every conversation I’ve had with Bill, and indeed his representatives who I’ve met, have been A positive. They have asked me the right questions and I’d like to think I have asked them the right questions back.”

McCoist also defended his comments on Tuesday when he told the media that both rivals bids involved a “newco” element. That prompted an immediate response from Kennedy’s spokesman, insisting their offer would see an exit from administration through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) without becoming a ‘newco’.

“Just to put the record straight on that, what I said on Tuesday I would have to stand by,” said McCoist. “Because I was told that’s the case. So I wasn’t giving out any information other than what I was told. If they have come out and denied it, that’s absolutely fine. But I certainly wasn’t misleading anyone in any way, shape or form. I was only passing on information I was told.”

Kennedy’s attendance at last night’s game indicated that he still feels he can beat tow-truck millionaire Miller in persuading administrators Duff & Phelps togrant his bid preferred status, allowing a period of exclusivity as Rangers attempt to address their severe financial crisis.

Miller, who intends to place part of Rangers in an incubator company while using a CVA to deal with what he describes as the ‘toxic’ part of the company, has stated his bid is conditional on the club starting next season in the SPL without any further financial penalties or points deductions.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said earlier this week that no such assurances could be provided to Miller but did suggest that Rangers’ place in the top flight could be transferred to a “newco” without sanctions if it was at the discretion of the SPL board of directors. Even with a preferred bidder announced, there remain myriad problems for Rangers to solve. The issue of current owner Craig Whyte’s majority shareholding and his security over Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park are the biggest factors facing any purchaser.

Kennedy and the Blue Knights were at pains to make it clear their bid was dependent on Whyte releasing the 85 per cent shareholding he purchased from Sir David Murray for £1 a year ago this month. Miller has stressed he is the only prospective purchaser who has “refused to engage in discussions” with Whyte. It remains to be seen how Miller intends to circumvent the control Whyte still exerts.

Before kick-off last night, there was a call from Rangers club ambassador and former player Sandy Jardine to unequivocally back whoever takes control. “It is time to get behind both bidders who are doing their best to save the club,” said Jardine in an address to fans. “Now is not the time for division.”

Meanwhile, Rangers will today attempt to reverse the decision of a SFA Judicial Panel to fine them £160,000 and impose a 12-month transfer embargo.