Charles Green: No Player Exodus From Rangers

The man heading the bid to buy Rangers Football Club has talked down fears of a mass exit of players now the club is heading for liquidation.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs announced on Tuesday that it would vote against a Company Voluntary Arrangement, effectively forcing the club into liquidation.

The decision by HMRC also means Rangers will not be able to play European football for three years.

Charles Green, who is leading a consortium aiming to acquire the club , is now pushing ahead with plans to buy the club's assets and form a new company.

The exclusion from European football has led to fears that the clubs remaining high profile players might want out.

But Green in adamant they are staying put. He said: "If the players choose not to transfer they will then be in breach of contract but we want all of the staff and players to get behind what we are trying to do.

"I always think if you are going to get news, good or bad, it is better if you get it earlier rather than later.

"If it is good news, you can party for longer and if it's bad it gives you
time to recover. That's what we've got here."

Administrators for the club said the rejection of the CVA means that other clubs in the Scottish Premier League will now vote to decide if Rangers can continue playing in the top flight.

HMRC, who are currently owed more than £21m, believe their decision to force liquidation will allow them to pursue individuals for the debt.

A statement from them read: "A liquidation provides the best opportunity to protect taxpayers, by allowing the potential investigation and pursuit of possible claims against those responsible for the company's financial affairs in recent years.

"Liquidation will enable a sale of the football assets to be made to a new company, thereby ensuring that football will continue at Ibrox."

HMRC forced Rangers into administration on February 14th after the club failed to pay millions of pounds in PAYE and VAT following the takeover by Craig Whyte in May last year.

Rangers F.C. was formed in 1872 and is the only club in the world to have won more than 50 national league titles. It is also one of the best achieving clubs on record having won 115 trophies.