Rangers secure SFA membership

Rangers have been cleared to start their season in the Ramsdens Cup against Brechin on Sunday, after being granted conditional Scottish Football Association membership.



The Scottish Football League announced that agreement had been reached following weeks of discussions, releasing a statement on behalf of the three football authorities while the Ibrox club also announced they had signed an agreement.



The SFL, SFA and Scottish Premier League statement read: "We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached on all outstanding points relating to the transfer of the Scottish FA membership between Rangers FC (In Administration), and Sevco Scotland Ltd, who will be the new owners of The Rangers Football Club.



"A conditional membership will be issued to Sevco Scotland Ltd today, allowing Sunday's Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City to go ahead.



"Following the completion of all legal documentation, the Scottish Premier League will conduct the formal transfer of the league share between RFC (IA) and Dundee FC on no later than Friday 3rd August 2012. At this point, the transfer of Scottish FA membership will be complete."

Dundee offered Rangers' SPL place

Representatives of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs have confirmed that they will ask Dundee to replace Rangers in the top flight.



The news came after SPL clubs gathered at Hampden for crucial talks amid fears that at least five clubs could face administration after the fall of Rangers. The Gers' share in the competition has not yet been formally passed to another club.



Charles Green's "newco" will begin next season in the Scottish Third Division after a vote by the Scottish Football League (SFL) clubs on Friday.



First Division runners-up Dundee were chosen to be offered the SPL place ahead of relegated Dunfermline.



And despite speculation of a U-turn over Rangers playing in the Third Division, an SPL statement said: "It was agreed that the SPL would work with the Scottish FA, SFL and Rangers to facilitate Rangers FC taking their place in SFL Division 3 this season.



"It was agreed that Dundee FC would be invited to fill the space vacated by Rangers FC in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League."



Charles Green's "newco" will begin next season in the Scottish Third Division after a vote by the Scottish Football League (SFL) clubs on Friday.



The unfolding chaos and uncertainty in the Scottish game led the St Mirren chairman, Stewart Gilmour, to claim that five clubs, including his own, were at risk of administration during the coming weeks.



SFL clubs had been warned that an SPL2 breakaway league could be on the cards if they resisted pressure to allow Rangers to play in the First Division.



That prompted Queen of the South, one of the clubs who voted in favour of the First Division proposal, to criticise the Scottish Football Association and the SPL for what they described as "threats".



The Inverness chairman, Kenny Cameron, said his club would be seeking "consensual" reform of the Scottish game as the fallout from the Rangers crisis continued to bite.



Speaking after an emergency board meeting on Sunday, Cameron said: "We are one of the few clubs with no bank debt whatsoever, so our position is very far from immediately threatening, as has been alleged.



"We look forward to the new season on the back of renewed commitment over the weekend from our major shareholders and sponsors, for which we are very grateful.



"They fully appreciate that in May we, like other clubs, set our budget for 2012-13 [before the Rangers situation developed] and now there will be real change to the commercial curve because of events outwith our control."



He said the club had taken on board the opinions of its supporters, who he urged to keep contributing to the club through the purchase of season tickets, in voting against allowing the "newco" to play in the SPL.



The SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, and his SPL counterpart, Neil Doncaster, have claimed the league could lose about £16 milion each year, mainly from TV deals, as a result of Rangers being outside the set-up for at least three years.



But Cameron said: "At national level, we are optimistic that the SPL's sponsors will take due cognisance of the situation in which the SPL finds itself and will stand behind the league.''



Some SFL clubs had remained sceptical about the prospect of Rangers restarting in the bottom tier. The SFA retains some control over the situation because they have yet to grant the "newco" the right to assume Rangers' association membership.



Regan has faced calls to quit over his handling of the crisis. He had vowed to make sure the Third Division option for Rangers did not happen.



Rangers manager Ally McCoist and Green were in attendance at the SPL talks. Nobody from the league was able to confirm exactly why, but they could have been representing the original Rangers, still being run by administrators after the assets were sold to Green's Sevco Scotland company.

Rangers put in Third Division

Rangers will start the new season in the Irn-Bru Third Division following a vote by Scottish Football League chairmen at Hampden on Friday.



The 30 SFL teams were voting on whether Charles Green's newco Rangers should enter the league and which division they should be placed in.



The Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football Association were hopeful Rangers would be parachuted into the First Division, with SFA chief executive Stewart Regan claiming that putting the Ibrox club into the Third Division would bring financial catastrophe and a "slow, lingering death" of the game.

Everton confirm Naismith signing

Everton have confirmed the free transfer of Steven Naismith from Rangers on a four-year deal.



The Scotland international has signed a deal until 2016 after he terminated his contract with the soon-to-be-liquidated Scottish side, having rejected the chance to move over to the newco club.



Naismith, 25, will now join up with his new team-mates for the start of pre-season training this week.



"It is a great honour to be joining a club of Everton's wonderful history and to have the chance to play with such a talented group of players in the world's best league in front of such a passionate group of fans," Naismith told evertonfc.com.



"I look forward greatly to working with the manager David Moyes and all the staff at Everton and working hard to deliver on the pitch to repay their, and the chairman Mr (Bill) Kenwright's, faith and belief in me."



Moyes was keen to add greater strength to the forward line and believes Naismith will fit in well at Goodison Park.



"We are delighted that Steven has agreed to join us," said the Scot.



"He will be an excellent addition to the players we already have and we look forward to him being fit and ready to play at the start of the season.



"He is an established international who can play in a number of positions.



"He has a flexibility we always like in our players and which will hopefully prove to be very useful for us."

Stoke snap up Ness from Rangers

Stoke City have agreed a deal to sign Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness, who will complete his transfer upon receipt of international clearance.



Ness, 20, will join on a free after refusing to transfer his Rangers contract to the newco club formed after the Scottish side was liquidated following financial problems.



The midfielder will now look to continue his career with a switch to the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.



"Jamie is a lad with enormous potential who is clearly determined to make the most of this fresh start in the game,'' manager Tony Pulis told Stoke's official website.



"It's important that we introduce some young blood in strengthening the squad and he certainly fits the bill as someone tipped for a bright future.''



Ness made just 18 appearances for Rangers, having suffered with a groin injury last season.



Departing Rangers players have been told by the PFA Scotland that they are legitimate free agents if they chose to terminate their contract, but newco chief executive Charles Green has insisted he will take legal action over the departures.

Rangers preferred bidder announcement delayed

Rangers administrators have confirmed they will not name a preferred bidder for the club on Monday.



Duff and Phelps said on Friday that they would look to proceed with USA businessman Bill Miller's £11.2 million bid on Monday if no other offers were forthcoming.



However, the Blue Knights, led by former director Paul Murray, have returned to the table and both bidders have asked for more time.



David Whitehouse, of Duff and Phelps, said: "We have continued intensive discussions with interested parties over the weekend.



"The Blue Knights and Bill Miller have asked for a further short period of time to finalise their plans for the cub prior to any announcement on a preferred bidder.



"At this stage neither party has currently made an offer that is capable of acceptance by the administrators and we can only move forward when we have an offer on the table that can be concluded following a period of final due diligence.



"In broad terms, the Blue Knights are trying to resolve issues regarding the structure of their proposed funding partnership with Ticketus as well as conducting further analysis of player contracts.



"The proposed bid from Mr Bill Miller is, as he made clear on Friday, subject to specific conditions. Both bidders have raised with us their strong desire to attain greater clarity on potential footballing sanctions the club may face and these remain issues to be resolved.



"We believe that both bidding parties have the best interests of the club in mind and, frustrating as though it is for fans, it is better that these complex issues are addressed now rather than later. It is imperative that whichever offer is taken forward can be delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, neither bid involves liquidation."



Paul Murray, of the Blue Knights, said: "Frustrating though this is for everyone with the interests of the club at heart, the Blue Knights are supportive of the administration process and we think it is right the administrators are giving parties left in the race the opportunity to finalise their plans."



Rangers boss Ally McCoist said: "It has been a frustrating time for everyone associated with the club but I would ask our fans to stick with us for a few more days as we should have a clearer idea of where we are.



"The administrators are working hard behind the scenes in very difficult and complex circumstances to ensure the future of Rangers Football Club."



Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, said: "Our fans are frustrated by the further delay but hopefully the issues can be resolved in the next few days.



"I'm sure every effort is being made to make progress and it is vitally important that we have clarification soon. It would be helpful if supporters allow Duff and Phelps to get on with their work at this crucial time."



Whitehouse added: "Because of what has happened at Rangers, the football authorities too have a difficult task as there are many unprecedented issues to deal with.



"This is a complicated administration due to recent and historical events at Ibrox and while everyone wants to see a solution brought about quickly there is a need to grasp the reality of the situation.



"It is all very well for some parties to talk in terms of delivering a Company Voluntary Arrangement. That is an administrator's primary objective. However, that can only be delivered successfully if it is agreeable to creditors and it is fair to say that certain bids that have been submitted may not have been approved by creditors.



"It is deeply regrettable that some parties have continued to present their bid as being a solution when it clearly was not the case. In terms of timing, we believe that should an unconditional bid be made that would meet creditors' approval and a CVA process could begin, the club could emerge from administration within a period of two months and certainly prior to the commencement of next season.



"If we proceed with an offer that is based on a sale of the business and assets, then we would expect the football club share to be transferred within a matter of weeks, with a preference of prior to the end of the current season.



"We fully understand and share the frustration of the fans. However, we cannot ignore the fact that while they wish to see an exit from administration there is a not a bid on the table now that will deliver that.



"Everyone should also bear in mind that if that is not achievable then we have to look at all options to keep the club going. What would be the worst outcome is neither party deciding they wish to carry on. It is therefore not in the club's interest for people - failed bidders and concerned supporters - to be generating hostility to bidders who are trying to secure the club's future."