Tuesday 27 January 2015 14:00, UK
The Rangers board has agreed a £10m loan deal with Mike Ashley's Sports Direct company, it has announced to the Stock Exchange.
Without the injection of fresh funding, the Championship club would not have been able to cover wages due this Thursday.
I think this is a great deal and I'm really pleased to get some money into the club.
The loan will be secured against Murray Park, Edmiston House, Albion Car Park - but not Ibrox Stadium. Sports Direct will also receive 26% of the share capital in Rangers Retail Limited and the proceeds of future shirt sponsorship for loan's duration.
The possibility of the club's stadium being used as security against the loan had caused widespread consternation among supporters in recent days.
In return for the money, Ashley will be able to nominate two directors to the Rangers board which currently consists of David Somers, James Easdale, Derek Llambias - the former managing director of Newcastle United - and former Head of Sports Direct Retail, Barry Leach.
Rangers chairman Somers said: "I think this is a great deal and I'm really pleased to get some money into the club.
"When I became chairman 12 months ago I had three goals, one was to make sure this great club never, ever goes into administration, two was to get some money into the club and this deal moves us towards the third goal of getting us into the Premiership and the Champions League. This sort of money will really help us to do that.
'Stability'
"The board has sought for some time to establish a long term funding solution for the company in order to create a platform of stability to build for the future.
“This facility begins this process and we very much hope that it will be augmented with further permanent capital in due course. In addition, the executive team have made strides in addressing the cost base of the company in order to improve our financial condition and working capital profile.
“We very much hope that we can now move away from having to seek short-term funding solutions and can focus our efforts towards investing in the first team playing squad, a return to profitability and to re-establishing Rangers in the top league in Scottish football and in due course, to European competition. The board now calls upon all shareholders to rally together to achieve this goal.
Speaking outside Ibrox, Sky Sports reporter Charles Paterson told Sky Sports News HQ: "This loan is split into two parts. Firstly, a £5m segment which is available immediately for working capital and to also pay off outstanding loans. The second part, which is due for repayment over five years, is for working capital.
"This £10m loan is from Sports Direct, and it's important to distinguish the difference, and it is not secured on Ibrox Stadium."
