Rangers enter administration

Rangers have today appointed administrators Duff and Phelps after a court battle with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. Rangers were given an ultimatum to move into administration at the Court of Session in Edinburgh 24 hours after lodging notice of intent. The move will trigger an automatic ten-point deduction by the Scottish Premier League, all but handing the title to Celtic. Rangers appointed their preferred administrator after a court petition was lodged by HMRC to have one appointed for them. Rangers had been given until 3.30pm to make the appointment following legal debate and did so with around 45 minutes to spare. The court was told the administrators would be Duff & Phelps, who Rangers named as their preferred partners after lodging papers at the court yesterday signalling their intention to enter administration. Rangers said a final decision would be taken in ten working days but their hand was forced by the tax authority. The reigning Scottish champions, who have fallen 14 points behind leaders Celtic as a result of the decision, are awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal which owner Craig Whyte claims could cost them £75million.