It's Miller time for McCoist as American ups the ante in Rangers takeover

By John Greechan for MailOnline

Published: 18:12 EST, 8 April 2012 | Updated: 18:12 EST, 8 April 2012

Potential Rangers owner Bill Miller last night insisted a face-to-face meeting with Ally McCoist will be his first priority if he is granted preferred bidder status this week.

And the American, who accused rival bidders the Blue Knights of mortgaging the club's future by keeping Ticketus involved, is looking forward to having 'a cold beer' with the Ibrox boss.

McCoist and Miller spoke for an hour on Friday night and then again immediately after Saturday's 3-1 home win over St Mirren, with the manager declaring himself impressed by the Tennessee Tow Truck King's enthusiasm.

And Miller, who is in a three-way fight for preferred bidder status with the Blue Knights and Singapore-based Bill Ng, told Sportsmail that the feeling was mutual.

Reacting to McCoist's suggestion of either flying out to the States or welcoming the would-be buyer to Scotland for a further chat, Miller said: 'We agreed that if I'm selected as the preferred bidder, we would immediately sit down over a cold beer to celebrate and discuss our future plans for the Rangers.

'In our discussion on Friday, I was very impressed and found Ally straightforward, enthusiastic and clearly has the Rangers and their fans' best interest at heart.

'After calling Ally today to congratulate him on the Rangers victory, my impression was only strengthened.'

Miller has yet to reveal any detail about his proposals for the club, refusing to rule out a newco solution, though McCoist reported his belief the 65-year-old didn't view liquidation as the best route out of insolvency.

Asked how his bid differs from that of the Blue Knights, the group put together by former Rangers director Paul Murray, Miller pinpointed the continued involvement of Ticketus as a problem for his rivals.

'I don't know any more about the Ticketus/Blue Knights bid than I've read in the papers but, if the information is correct, the bid would put £20million of debt (Murray has claimed it will be nearer £10m) on the club.

'Any time you mortgage the future of a sports team, you endanger its health and long-term viability.'

McCoist, who has held detailed discussions with Murray but is yet to talk with Ng, said of Miller: 'I had a conference call with him for the best part of an hour and it was very encouraging.

'He was discussing the possibility of a CVA, which he is in favour of. Liquidation is not the route he wants to go down.

'If the administrators give them the option to buy the club, then I would certainly fly to the States to meet him.'

Ng, meanwhile, claims to be a lifelong Rangers fan and says he has been planning his takeover since December - two months before Rangers entered administration.