Rangers: Walter Smith and Graeme Souness to be reunited if Brian Kennedy takes over

WALTER Smith and Graeme Souness could be reunited at Ibrox if Brian Kennedy’s takeover plan for Rangers comes to fruition.

As the deadline for submitting bids for Rangers looms, it emerged last night that Kennedy, as well as consulting Souness and current Ibrox manager Ally McCoist, is “very interested” in involving Smith, who was Souness’s assistant manager before taking charge himself.

Kennedy’s offer, one of six or seven expected to be submitted to administrators Duff and Phelps by today’s 5pm deadline, has emerged as the most advanced – despite his insistence that he is a reluctant bidder whose only interest is ensuring the club’s survival. The Cheshire-based businessman, who grew up in Edinburgh as a Hibernian supporter, revealed to The Scotsman last night that he regarded Smith and Souness as “great assets” to have back at Ibrox.

“I’d be foolish not to to take advice from Graeme and Walter, people who understand the club and who could maybe add something to it,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to Walter, but I’ve let it be known that, if anything goes forward, I’d be very interested in getting him involved.

“These men know the game and have the club at heart. They’d be great assets, maybe in a part-time capacity – but in any capacity they’d be great assets.”

Kennedy, who owns the Sale Sharks rugby club, revealed earlier this week that he had already met McCoist. “That was just a getting-to-know-him exercise,” he said. “He is such a lovely lad and very capable.”

Kennedy has said he would be a low-profile owner if he were to take over but, over the past month, he has emerged as the most high-profile potential buyer. His offer amounts to an insurance policy that the administrators can turn to if any other credible bid fails to materialise. Asked why, with no previous enthusiasm for Rangers, he was willing to make the bid, he said: “I know this sounds a bit smarmy, but I feel a social responsibility and, if I have to, I will do everything I can to make sure this great institution doesn’t disappear. That’s where I’m coming from.

“I didn’t wake up four weeks ago with the intention of buying a football club. Maybe I’ve suffered a lobotomy without realising it. If nobody else does it, I’ll be there – if it makes sense.

“The administrators have to present a clean sheet and all the debt and all the legacy stuff has to be put in the CVA [Company Voluntary Arrangement]. They have to deliver that.”

Meanwhile, Duff and Phelps are due back in court in Edinburgh today for the second part of a two-day hearing in which they have challenged the £24milion deal between Ticketus and current Rangers owner Craig Whyte.

If the court finds in favour of the administrators, Ticketus would become unsecured creditors and find it far more difficult to recoup their investment. However, they could still emerge as joint owners of Rangers if Paul Murray’s Blue Knights consortium, which they have joined, is successful with its bid.