Profile: Paul Murray,

FORMER Deutsche Bank high-flyer Paul Murray is understood to be the director referred to in Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston's statement yesterday.

A chartered accountant with a healthy personal fortune, he was made a non-executive director at the Ibrox club in 2007, advising on business development. He has also served on the club's youth development board.

He was a key player when it came to piecing together a bid for the club which was thwarted two years ago. A consortium, comprised of non-executive directors Murray, Dave King, and Douglas Park, tried to buy the club but their rescue package was turned down by Lloyds, which felt they were trying to get the club at a knockdown price.

This time, the 47-year-old appears to have secured allies on the board's independent sub-committee as he looks set to reprise his role of 2009. But while he is said to be the face of the deal, speculation is rife that his backers could include his former consortium colleagues.

King grew up in Castlemilk, Glasgow, but emigrated to South Africa in 1976, where he managed to accumulate a huge personal fortune as a financial consultant. However, his involvement in previous attempts to wrestle control from Sir David Murray was undermined when he was faced with 322 criminal charges over an alleged 180 million unpaid tax bill.

Park, who has a personal fortune estimated at around 50m, is the founder of the Park's of Hamilton coach and bus company, and head of Park's Motor Group. He stated two years ago that he could not see anyone buying the club while the HMRC issue remained unresolved.