Rangers’ administrators said yesterday they had received “several expressions of interest from parties not connected to the club” since taking over the running of the cash-strapped Scottish champions.

Administrators Duff and Phelps took charge of Rangers on Tuesday after Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the British tax authority, went to court to seek their administration over an unpaid bill of £9 million ($14m) built up since Craig Whyte took control at Ibrox in May.

Administration is the process whereby a troubled company calls upon independent expert financial help in a bid to remain operational.

Rangers’ title hopes were all but ended after the Scottish Premier League docked them 10 points for entering administration, leaving them 14 points behind leaders and arch Glasgow rivals Celtic, but still in second place.

They are also awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal that could leave the 140-year-old club with a bill of up to £75m, according to Whyte.

“As administrators, we have to look at all other expressions of interest in the club and to date we have received several expressions of interest from parties not connected to the club,” joint administrator Paul Clark told a news conference at Rangers’ Ibrox ground.

“These will be subject to ongoing discussions and examined in the forthcoming days,” he added

Clark stressed Rangers would continue as a football club, saying: “We are wholly confident that Rangers will continue as a football club and will not face liquidation.”