Takeover saved McGregor departure

09 May 2011 10:30

Craig Whyte claims Rangers would have had to sell star goalkeeper Allan McGregor if his bid to buy the club had fallen through.

After six months of negotiations, London-based businessman Whyte took over from Sir David Murray on Friday night in a deal worth £52.5million. The new owner admits there were times when he thought of walking away and insists that if the buy-out had not gone ahead, McGregor would have been sold in the summer.

However, a new deal for the Scotland number one is back on the table. "If the deal had not gone ahead on Friday, Rangers would have been in the position where they would have had to sell Allan McGregor, but that is no longer the case," Whyte told the Scottish Sun.

On the pitch, Rangers need two wins from their last two games to guarantee retaining the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

Whyte added: "Our focus is completely on winning the league. That is the gateway to Europe and the Champions League.

"As a football club and as a business we want to be successful both on and off the pitch. Rangers are now in a position that we are debt-free."

Source: PA