Blue Knights and Ticketus submit 'best and final bid' for Rangers

A view of the gates at Ibrox, the home of Rangers Football Club (Getty Images)

The Blue Knights consortium and Ticketus have confirmed they have submitted a "best and final bid" for Rangers ahead of today's deadline.

Administrators Duff and Phelps signalled last night that there could be five bids on the table for the stricken Scottish champions by close of play this evening.

The bid from the Blue Knights - fronted by former Ibrox director Paul Murray - and Ticketus is the first to be confirmed as submitted ahead of the deadline.

A statement from Ticketus read: "The Blue Knights Consortium, led by Paul Murray and supported by fans' representatives (from the Rangers Supporters Assembly, the Rangers Supporters Association and the Rangers Supporters Trust) and Ticketus, confirms that it has this morning submitted its best and final bid for the acquisition of Rangers Football Club ahead of today's deadline, as requested by the Administrators."

The consortium again stressed their opposition to seeing Rangers liquidated and remain adamant that exiting administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) remains the best option for the club.

The statement added: "The members of the Consortium remain united in their belief that a collaborative approach is essential in securing the club's future through a successful and swift CVA process.

"The Consortium strongly believes that a CVA, not liquidation, is the best way to protect the club's value and legacy and consequently that is the approach presented in our offer."

Murray said: "We are determined to try and save the club in its current form.

"We strongly believe that there is value to be gained from the financial and football benefits that a CVA can deliver that would be immediately lost if the club went into liquidation.

"We are confident in the strength of our bid and the Consortium's unique ability to rapidly return financial stability to the club with the support of Ticketus.

"As a Rangers fan first and foremost, I want to bring a swift end to the current uncertainties that are clouding the club. Our bid can deliver this."