Rangers takeover: Indecision could lead to liquidation, Paul Murray warns

PROSPECTIVE Rangers bidder Paul Murray has warned the club’s administrators that time is running out to save the club from liquidation.

The former Ibrox director’s Blue Knights consortium, a Singapore group fronted by Bill Ng and American tycoon Bill Miller remain in the running to take over the ailing Glasgow club despite proposed changes to Scottish Premier League rules.

If passed, the resolutions will mean tougher sanctions for clubs who go into administration in future or face the prospect of liquidation - an option which has not yet been ruled out for Rangers.

Administrators Duff and Phelps yesterday announced a delay in choosing a preferred bidder so “parties” can further explore the likely penalties with the SPL.

The Daily Record claims that delay was at the behest of Miller and Ng and quoted Murray as saying: “I urge the administrators to choose a preferred bidder and allow one of us to get on with the job.

“Whether it’s me or anyone else does not matter - just choose.

“This is becoming more and more difficult. I am extremely concerned about the timetable.

“The longer it goes on the more difficult it will be to avoid liquidation.

“Any new buyer needs to be able to start talking to the players in order to renegotiate the clauses which were recently inserted into their contracts.

“We need to make sure these guys know there is a future at Ibrox. It wouldn’t surprise me if some have already instructed their agents to find new clubs.

“If these guys leave in big numbers the cost of replacing them and keeping the team competitive will run into tens of millions. That would alter significantly any business plan.”

The SPL revealed on Tuesday proposed rule changes which would see a phoenix Rangers hit with massive financial penalties and 10-point deductions over each of its first two seasons.