Rangers FC enters administration

Feb 14 2012

Rangers Football Club has gone into administration following a tense court battle with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The Ibrox club appointed its preferred administrators a day after it signalled its intention to do so.

Joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, of Duff and Phelps, were brought in by Rangers.

The move, one of the most dramatic in the club's 140-year history, triggered an automatic 10-point deduction by the Scottish Premier League.

Scotland's largest police force, Strathclyde, subsequently revealed it was seeking "urgent" talks with the administrators over the club's ability to pay for officers at future matches.

The Glasgow-based club appointed Duff and Phelps after a petition was lodged by HMRC at the Court of Session in Edinburgh to have one appointed for them.

Rangers had been given until 3.30pm to make the appointment following legal debate and did so with about 45 minutes to spare.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions, who have fallen 14 points behind leaders Celtic as a result of the decision, are also awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal which could cost them £75 million.