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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rangers administration: 'Full house' expected at Ibrox | Rangers administration: 'Full house' expected at Ibrox |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Rangers football fans are packing out Ibrox for the club's first match since appointing administrators on Tuesday. | |
| Tens of thousands of supporters have turned out for the home game against Kilmarnock, at the 50,000-seater Ibrox stadium in Glasgow. | |
| The game has drawn what is expected to be the biggest crowd in the UK as fans rally behind the club, which is facing a £9m tax bill. | |
| Rangers chairman Craig Whyte will not attend the match. | Rangers chairman Craig Whyte will not attend the match. |
| But Mr Whyte said on Friday that he had "absolutely nothing to fear" from any inquiry into his purchase of the club. | But Mr Whyte said on Friday that he had "absolutely nothing to fear" from any inquiry into his purchase of the club. |
| With English giants Manchester United knocked out of the FA Cup and Arsenal playing away, a capacity crowd at Ibrox is likely be the biggest attendance of the weekend. | |
| Rangers manager Ally McCoist said he knew how fans were feeling but that they would put on a show of strength at Ibrox. | Rangers manager Ally McCoist said he knew how fans were feeling but that they would put on a show of strength at Ibrox. |
| Writing in the match programme, he said: "It was a very disappointing and black day on Tuesday when it was announced that the club had gone into administration. | Writing in the match programme, he said: "It was a very disappointing and black day on Tuesday when it was announced that the club had gone into administration. |
| "The effect of this news was massive and wide ranging but it is our duty to deal with it with the pride and honour that befits this great football club." | "The effect of this news was massive and wide ranging but it is our duty to deal with it with the pride and honour that befits this great football club." |
| He added: "The one thing that I have to ask you at this time for the club is to be with the club and with the team. They need the support of the fans more than ever in this hour." | He added: "The one thing that I have to ask you at this time for the club is to be with the club and with the team. They need the support of the fans more than ever in this hour." |
| The Scottish Premier League club went into administration on Tuesday, with HMRC pursuing an unpaid £9m tax bill accrued since Mr Whyte assumed control at Ibrox in May 2011. | The Scottish Premier League club went into administration on Tuesday, with HMRC pursuing an unpaid £9m tax bill accrued since Mr Whyte assumed control at Ibrox in May 2011. |
| Questions have also been raised over the whereabouts of £24m paid to the club by the firm Ticketus for future season tickets. | Questions have also been raised over the whereabouts of £24m paid to the club by the firm Ticketus for future season tickets. |
| Rangers were given a 10-point penalty for going into administration, leaving the club 14 points behind Celtic in the SPL race. | Rangers were given a 10-point penalty for going into administration, leaving the club 14 points behind Celtic in the SPL race. |
| Club probes | Club probes |
| As fans arrived at Ibrox on Saturday, they echoed Ally McCoist's mantra from earlier in the week that Rangers "don't do walking away". | As fans arrived at Ibrox on Saturday, they echoed Ally McCoist's mantra from earlier in the week that Rangers "don't do walking away". |
| Today the chanting of Rangers fans isn't in the stands but outside its famous front door. | |
| Thousands of people gathered ahead of today's Kilmarnock game to wave banners and sing their support for the team if not its owners. | |
| One sign read, "this club will never die". Another criticised the former owner Sir David Murray, former Chief Executive Martin Bain and current owner Craig Whyte. | |
| But this match is a sell-out. | |
| Manager Ally McCoist called for fans to back the team - they are doing that in their tens of thousands. | |
| But when the final whistle blows the financial crisis will remain and the questions about why this famous footballing brand is in administration will continue. | |
| Football, for now, is not the priority in this part of Glasgow. | |
| One supporter added: "We are the people and we're going to win today, we're going to show the world what Rangers Football Club are all about." | One supporter added: "We are the people and we're going to win today, we're going to show the world what Rangers Football Club are all about." |
| Others said there would be a party atmosphere inside the ground despite the club being in a position they never thought would happen. | Others said there would be a party atmosphere inside the ground despite the club being in a position they never thought would happen. |
| Administrators Duff and Phelps have said they would continue to ensure the club's business was "run seamlessly" as a plan to exit administration was developed. | |
| Speaking ahead of the game, joint administrator Paul Clark said new information about the takeover and running of the club had become available and they expected to prepare a proper statement on the finances of the club next week. | |
| He said: "We're going to be looking at that information over the coming days and we expect to give some form of announcement during the course of next week." | |
| In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Whyte said he understood fans' anxiety. He said he knew the supporters would use the game to "prove why you are the best football fans in the world". | In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Whyte said he understood fans' anxiety. He said he knew the supporters would use the game to "prove why you are the best football fans in the world". |
| He added: "Although I would dearly love to be at Ibrox for the game, my priority is, and will continue to be, to assist the administrators in any way I can to bring this process to as speedy a conclusion as possible. | He added: "Although I would dearly love to be at Ibrox for the game, my priority is, and will continue to be, to assist the administrators in any way I can to bring this process to as speedy a conclusion as possible. |
| "Painful though it is for all concerned, administration now gives Rangers a fighting chance - a welcome breathing space - to fix major structural problems that will allow the club to grow and prosper again both on and off the field." | "Painful though it is for all concerned, administration now gives Rangers a fighting chance - a welcome breathing space - to fix major structural problems that will allow the club to grow and prosper again both on and off the field." |