Scottish champions Rangers were left facing a 10-point deduction that would all but end their title hopes after appointing an administrator Tuesday in a bid to stave off financial meltdown.
The Glasgow giants did though win their court race with British tax authorities to select an administrator of their own choosing.
Having been set a deadline by the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the Ibrox club said they'd appointed administrators Duff and Phelps, whom they'd already had on board as advisors.
Rangers, who were 15 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League earlier in the season, now trail leaders and arch-rivals Celtic by four points.
If, as expected, the SPL hit Rangers with a 10-point penalty for entering administration, they'd be a huge 14 points adrift.
Rangers' next SPL match, at home to Kilmarnock, was called into question, as Strathclyde Police sought assurances they'd be paid for policing the event.
A statement read: "Strathclyde Police is a public body and has a duty to make sure public resources are used appropriately.
"We are seeking an urgent meeting with the administrators to ensure that any payment for policing costs at future Rangers games is guaranteed.
"Until we have such a guarantee we would not be in a position to commit public resources to policing an event unless we had a reassurance that our costs would be met."
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the British tax authority, went to court on Tuesday in a bid to appoint their own administrator, voicing concerns that one chosen by the club would be too close to the Ibrox side.
Rangers are awaiting a tribunal verdict which could leave them with a bill of up to £75 million ($118 million, 90 million euros), should they lose their dispute with HMRC.
The case centres around the previous Rangers management's decision to pay employees, including some players, using employee benefit trusts.
Although EBTs are not illegal, HMRC insist tax contributions were due on the salaries players were receiving.
Craig Whyte, who bought Rangers from Sir David Murray for £1 in May and pledged to pay off its £18 million debt, blamed the previous regime for the current problems on Monday and said administration represented the best hope of long-term survival.
"There is no realistic or practical alternative to our approach," he said.
"We should not forget the tribunal relates to a claim by HMRC for unpaid taxes over a period of several years dating back to 2001 which, if decided in favour of HMRC, the club would be unable to pay."
Rangers draw an average home gate at Ibrox of 46,000 -- higher than leading English clubs Liverpool and Chelsea -- yet are still facing the prospect of going out of business.
Whyte tried to explain their predicament Monday by saying: "As I have said before, Rangers costs approximately £45 million per year to operate and commands around £35 million in revenue."
Rangers and Celtic are Scotland's two most successful clubs and their rivalry, rooted in sectarian hatred with Rangers a largely Protestant club and Celtic a Catholic one, is arguably the most bitter in all British football.
Such is the two clubs' dominance of the SPL that even if Rangers were deducted 10 points, they'd still be nine clear of third-placed Motherwell.
But the Glasgow duo have struggled to make an impact upon the lucrative European Champions League.
Source: AFP
