Rangers Administrators Give Update

Administrators say they have new information on the takeover and running of Rangers which will help form a full picture of club finances.

Paul Clark, a joint administrator from Duff and Phelps, was speaking as thousands of fans packed out Ibrox in support of the troubled club.

Mr Clark said the transaction details had become available overnight.

He said the information was being assessed and details were expected to emerge in the week ahead.

The administrator also stressed that he believed HM Revenue and Customs would work with his firm for the survival of Rangers.

A first half goal from Kilmarnock and a sending off for Rangers saw the Glasgow club lose 1-0 on Saturday.

In a briefing ahead of the Scottish Premier League game, Mr Clark said he expected to make an announcement next week regarding the new information relating to the club's finances. This came from solicitors who have previously been connected with the club.

Rangers were forced to call in administrators on Tuesday over an unpaid tax bill of £9m accrued since Craig Whyte's takeover in May.

Last week, the administrators revealed they did not have "visibility" of £24m which had come from a deal on future season ticket sales with the firm Ticketus.

Mr Clark said: "We have received some information overnight in relation to various monies and various transactions in relation to Rangers Football Club.

"We're going to be looking at all of that information over the coming days and we expect to give some form of announcement during the course of next week.

"But, at the moment, from the financial side of things, we are still working so that we can prepare a proper statement for delivery next week."

He added: "It's in relation to several transactions in relation to the takeover and other issues in relation to the financial affairs of the football club over the past few months."

Mr Clark said he had been in discussion with HMRC on Saturday morning, as part of ongoing talks.

The club is also involved in a tribunal over a disputed tax bill dating back to before the Whyte era which totals an estimated £49m.

A ruling on this is expected in the coming weeks, but the administrators revealed it was likely to be April before Rangers find out the outcome of the HMRC case.

Mr Clark added: "What they asked us to point out is that had they wished to close the football club then rather than issue the administration application that they did last week, it would have been a winding up petition to the court.

"So this is not about liquidation, it's about survival of the football club and we'll be working with them with that in mind."

Tens of thousands of fans turned out in a show of unity at Ibrox, packing the 50,000 seat stadium to capacity.

Supporters held up banners in support of manager Ally McCoist and criticising former and current owners of the club.

However, the supporters left disappointed after their team failed to come back from going a goal down.

Nikica Jelavic Joins Toffees

Everton have signed Croatian international striker Nikica Jelavic from Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old joins the Blues on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Jelavic, who moved to the Gers from Rapid Vienna in August 2010, has scored 17 goals in all competitions so far this season.

He becomes David Moyes' third signing of the January transfer window, following deals for Landon Donovan and Darron Gibson.

Everton this week sold Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Spartak Moscow for £5m.

Jelavic received a warm reception after being introduced to Blues supporters at half time in Tuesday's Premier League game with Manchester City at Goodison Park.

He will be available to make his first appearance in Saturday's trip to Wigan.

Scottish champions Rangers are currently experiencing financial problems and Rangers manager Ally McCoist admitted on Saturday: "Nikica, if he went, would be a big loss.

"He's a fantastic player and he has been a great talent here. But, as you saw, we scored some really good goals. Nikica also didn't play against Motherwell and equally we did very well. That's just two examples.

"I'd also like to tell you I wouldn't like to lose him. Of course I wouldn't, because he's a good player. But I understand the economics of our club and I understand the economics of football. Sometimes they dictate and determine what happens."

Moyes was initially interested in Jelavic when he moved to Ibrox from Rapid Vienna for £4m in August 2010.

Ally McCoist Next Rangers Manager

Ally McCoist will become Rangers manager at the end of the season, the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club have confirmed.

The club revealed McCoist, who scored 355 goals in 581 appearances for the club, had agreed a one-year rolling contract with Kenny McDowall stepping up from the coaching team to become his assistant.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain told the club's official website: 'We are delighted to confirm Ally as our next manager when Walter Smith steps down at the end of the season.

'First and foremost Ally is a passionate Rangers supporter who has been a loyal servant to the club both as a player and more recently assistant manager. He has contributed greatly to our success over the past four years and that is why we feel he is the right man to replace Walter.

'When Ally joined Walter as his assistant in January 2007 he was always being groomed as the next manager. He is the unanimous choice of the Rangers board to take the club forward next season and when I offered him the position in December - during our Champions League trip to Bursaspor - he agreed immediately.

'Walter Smith is rightly regarded as one of the most successful managers in our proud history and what he has achieved during the nine-in-a-row years and more recently in his second spell as manager is nothing short of remarkable.

'I am sure the supporters would join me in thanking him for his commitment and loyalty and I know he will work tirelessly to continue the club's success in the remaining months of the campaign.'

McCoist said: 'It was an honour to pull on the Rangers jersey during my playing career. I have enjoyed working with Walter, Kenny McDowall, Ian Durrant and the backroom team as assistant manager and to be confirmed as the next Rangers manager is a dream come true.

'Over the past few years I have been privileged to learn from one of the greatest managers in world football and Walter's record speaks for itself.

'The success he brought to Rangers during nine-in-a-row and the last four years in difficult times has been unbelievable and he has rightly gained the respect of everyone in the game.

'I am delighted to be following in his footsteps and I will do everything possible to bring further success to this club. I have said it many times - Rangers is a special club with a great history and tradition and this is the proudest day of my career.

'The fans have backed me for almost 20 years as a player and assistant manager and as a lifelong Rangers supporter myself I look forward to rewarding their loyalty by bringing silverware to our club.'

Smith considered stepping down last summer after leading Rangers to a second successive Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

But he stayed on to help the club through their financial troubles, which saw him unable to buy a player for almost two years.

McCoist's succession has been expected but never formally announced amid uncertainty over recent takeover interest.

Scottish tycoon Craig Whyte has been studying the club's accounts for several months with a view to making an offer.