Murray open-minded on his successor

Rangers chairman David Murray has not ruled out the club passing into foreign hands when he stands down.

Murray has pledged to carry out his own ’fit and proper person’ test, similar to the English Premier League’s assessment procedure, on prospective new owners.

And he insists he will judge on merit, rather than on the lines of nationality, when he discusses a takeover with potential investors.

Murray told the Daily Mail: “You cannot set down the template for the right kind of owner and box yourself in.

“You can’t say he must be Scottish, British or a foreigner. There is talk about scrutiny of would-be owners for English Premiership clubs. What I am saying is I will do that kind of check myself on people.

“So the fans will just have to trust me. I think many will back me on that because when I keep checking the record books we find that Rangers have won the title in 13 of my 19 seasons at Ibrox.”

English clubs with foreign owners include Newcastle, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Rangers chief Murray has repeatedly stressed he is in no rush to sell, and he has demonstrated his ongoing commitment by backing manager Walter Smith in the transfer market this summer.

Smith made striker Daniel Cousin his 10th signing of the summer yesterday, and his spending has gone above £8m, with the likelihood of more new faces to come.