Administrators reassure Gers fans

They also hope to reach a stage "as soon as possible" where the club can emerge from administration. Duff and Phelps were appointed after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs forced the issue in the Court of Session in a bid to secure payment of £9million in PAYE and VAT, accrued since Craig Whyte took control of Rangers in May last year.

Joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse said: "We can report we have made very good progress within the first 24 hours of being appointed administrators over Rangers Football Club."

Saturday`s Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Kilmarnock at Ibrox will go ahead as planned, while the administrators expect to hold meetings with the club`s staff at least on a weekly basis throughout the process.

The statement continued: "Our first priority has been to ensure that the football club continues to function and this is being achieved with the help of staff, players and management at the club.

"In particular, we would like to thank the club's business partners who are going the extra mile to ensure that Saturday's home match against Kilmarnock goes ahead as scheduled.

"We had extremely constructive discussions with Strathclyde Police and we can confirm the match will take place. We fully recognise this is a difficult time for players and staff at the club and are extremely appreciative of their reaction to the situation.

"We will be holding meetings with the staff on a weekly basis at least to inform them of developments. We are also in the process of speaking to representatives of supporters' groups and that will be an ongoing process.

"In broad terms, supporters can be reassured that Rangers will continue as a football club and we hope to reach a stage as soon as possible where the club can emerge from administration.

"We have had expressions of support across the political spectrum in Scotland within the last 24 hours and there is clearly a desire to see Rangers come through this situation successfully."