Green buys Rangers and asks McCoist to stay

Rangers, champions a record 54 times, must now ask other Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs to allow them to remain in the top flight after their debt-laden parent company was liquidated.

"The consortium I represent has fulfilled its agreement with the administrators and has completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Rangers Football Club plc," Green said in a statement.

"Our consortium wants Ally McCoist to remain as manager and we firmly believe he is the man to take Rangers forward," said Green who was previously involved in the sport as chief executive of English second-tier Sheffield United.

Smith's intervention appears to have come too late to affect the takeover but it could make it harder for the new owners to win over the Rangers fans.

"An application has already been made by the company to register with the Scottish Football Association and to participate in the SPL," Green said.

"These applications will be considered over the next few weeks and I will continue to have discussions with the football authorities in relation to the club's position."