Rangers administrators Duff and Phelps tonight told supporters in a statement they can "be reassured that Rangers will continue as a football club".

They also says they hope to reach a stage "as soon as possible" where the club can emerge from administration.

Duff and Phelps were appointed on Tuesday after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs forced the issue in the Court of Session in a bid to secure payment of 9million pounds 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."

Earlier, the administrators held talks with the Scottish Government as they began the process of trying to sort the club's finances.

Officials from Duff and Phelps spoke to Scottish sports minister Shona Robison a day after being appointed by the club.

The group had already held discussions with Strathclyde Police yesterday to ensure the club's Clydesdale Bank Premier League home clash with Kilmarnock would go ahead after the force expressed concern over payments.

Ms Robison said: "In a telephone conversation this morning with the administrator, I explained that we want to see an outcome in the best interests of Rangers staff, supporters and the game of football in Scotland as a whole, whilst enabling the club to meet its obligations.

"A key concern for us is the future of those employed by the club and the potential economic impact of administration.

"The Government stands ready to offer assistance to anyone affected by implications for jobs and we will stay in contact with the administrator throughout the process to ensure we are informed of any developments."

Meanwhile, Dunfermline have expressed "extreme concern" that they will not be paid 80,000 pounds owed to them by Rangers by the date the cash should be received.

The Fife club are owed payment of gate receipts following last Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against the Scottish champions at East End Park. Hearts, Dundee United and Inverness are also due money from Rangers.

SPL bottom club Dunfermline say non-payment of monies owed to them will present challenges for them, albeit "not insurmountable" challenges.

A statement read: "All of the board of DAFC would like to express their concern and shock that a giant football club such as Rangers FC has gone into administration.

"The impact of this will be felt throughout Scotland, the UK and Europe, and the board and club would wish to convey their support to Rangers FC and hope that the club can find a way through this terrible time.

"However, the direct impact to DAFC is not insignificant: Rangers FC are due DAFC in the region of £80,000 of gate receipts from Saturday's fixture which is obviously of extreme concern.

"This payment is no longer expected to be received by next Tuesday which would have been due to the club.

"This is a significant amount of money for a club such as DAFC to lose, especially after losing £50,000 due to our game against Kilmarnock being postponed, and will create some challenges for us over the coming months. These challenges are not insurmountable.

"DAFC and the board of directors already have put in place a number of initiatives to raise additional capital to ensure that the club balances its books and has an ongoing programme to reduce costs.

"To date that programme has already made a meaningful saving for the club by reducing staff, policing, stewarding, fuel and telephony costs and we have made a small trading profit up to the end of January.

"As at today's date DAFC are only due £44,000 to HMRC. The club also continue to seek to increase commercial income and this is where DAFC fans are key to help achieve this."

The statement continued by urging their fans to back the club and help boost their own finances: "The most immediate area where everyone can help is in achieving as high a gate as possible at the upcoming game this Saturday against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"Please encourage as many friends and family to come along and get behind their local team. Several other projects are under way to increase income sources but these will take some time to come through.

"Work on the new full size all weather pitch at Pitreavie is planned to start in June 2012. Finally the board would like to thank their ever faithful support and hope that all DAFC fans will continue to show their support for the club in this ever increasingly difficult economic climate."