Blue Knights refute Ticketus' claim over talks

Chief football writer

Wednesday 18 April 2012

PAUL Murray and the Blue Knights consortium believe Ticketus have cut them out of a deal to bid for Rangers.

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Michael Grant

The London-based agency last night claimed it was still "willing to talk to all parties" in the Ibrox takeover saga but Herald Sport has received an email sent by a senior figure in the Blue Knights, which asked Ticketus for a decision on which bid it wanted to go with: Murray's or the Bill Ng consortium from Singapore. It was sent on Monday lunchtime but as of late last night there had been no reply.

The email included the paragraph: "We need to know by close of play tonight where we are with you. Are you working with us as agreed or have you changed 'horses' to the Singaporeans to do a better deal for Octopus [Ticketus' parent company] which is what you suggested yesterday?"The lack of response has convinced the Blue Knights – who have said they will "step back" from the process – that Ticketus now want to go with Ng's bid. Ticketus' backing has become crucial given they have the contractual rights to £27m-worth of season tickets over the next three years. The agency is prepared to write-off a significant amount of that sum to come on board with Rangers' new owners, rather than risk losing the vast majority under a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) or liquidation. The Blue Knights thought they had a deal done with Ticketus only for it to fall through over the weekend, when it emerged the company was instead having talks with Ng and the Singaporeans.Ticketus' public line is that they would still work with the Blue Knights but Murray's business partners believe that the lack of reply to the email told its own story. A Ticketus spokesman said: "Ticketus remain willing to talk to all parties, including Bill Ng and the Blue Knights. We don't see ourselves as kingmaker in that it is the administrators' job to decide which bidder is best for the club, and then our job to work with them constructively. We believe we could do that with both of the main consortia, which is why we remain open to liaising with both."Another bid, from the American Bill Miller, is still under consideration although he has had no discussions with Ticketus. Brian Kennedy, having previously withdrawn from contention, yesterday admitted that he could yet reconsider his position. "I do not want to distract the time critical process of appointing preferred bidders," insisted the businessman. "However should this fall through with the effect of endangering the existence of RFC, I would reconsider my position."The Blue Knights had expected to be named as the preferred bidder on Friday but Ticketus would not pay a necessary non-refundable deposit – initially £500,000 although that figure was then halved during negotiations – to Duff & Phelps.Paul Murray last night also voiced his frustration that a statement from Duff & Phelps on Monday accused the Blue Knights of withdrawing its offer to pay the deposit. "To be absolutely crystal clear, first of all I am disappointed that someone, let's just leave it at that, chose to leak this into the media," he said. "Secondly it wasn't us who didn't want to pick the deposit up. It was Ticketus who didn't pick it up having told us that they would. And thirdly we've been speaking to Paul Clark [of Duff & Phelps] directly and I'd like to hear Paul Clark's view on this because he was party to three or four conversations over the weekend when we as individuals offered – myself included – to put the money up. We believed late on Sunday evening we had an agreement with Paul Clark. So I am very surprised that Paul Clark is now questioning that we were prepared to do that, because it was very, very clear that we were. I would like to hear from Paul Clark on the record."We just want to bring the whole thing to a head. It's critical that a preferred bidder is chosen this week because we can't wait any longer. We're stepping back but we're not withdrawing. We want to enable these guys [Duff & Phelps, Ticketus and Ng's group] to try and do a deal . . . or not. If they can't do a deal we will step back in and honour our offer of a deal. But just make a decision."What we've said is we're acting in the best interests of the club. We want a preferred bidder to be chosen as soon as possible with time marching on. All I'm looking for is some clarity and for a decision to be made. But get on with it. Do it this week, do it now . . . or not."

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Blue Knights refute Ticketus' claim over talks

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