RANGERS last night stepped back from all-out war with their fans after deciding against using Ibrox as security against any further loans from Mike Ashley.

The multi-millionaire Newcastle United owner has reportedly offered a further £10m to save the crisis-torn Glasgow giants from another financial meltdown.

But the deal would have seen the club's stadium and Murray Park training ground ringfenced as mortgage security.

And that prospect sparked furious protests against the under-fire Ibrox regime at last Friday's home game against Hearts.

Supporters have always insisted that the club's stadium and training ground must never be mortgaged against any loans.

The uncertainty over the future of the club's two prime property assets was blamed for trouble before, during and after the abandoned match between Rangers and Hearts last Friday.

Supporters were involved in violent confrontations with rival fans from Edinburgh, as well as stewards and police in the ground.

The ugliest scenes came late on Friday night when a number of supporters broke into stadium offices, forcing police to move in again.

Within days, more than £500,000 was donated by the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund to prevent Ibrox being used.

But it now seems the club's board is ready to sanction a new loan from Sports Direct tycoon Ashley, which would bring his total loans to the club to £13m.

And that will almost certainly put them on a fresh collision course with former Rangers director Dave King and The Three Bears consortium who have already offered multi-million bail-out packages.

Rangers' board said putting Ibrox up as security was a decision that would 'not be taken lightly' but admitted it was a move that might be necessary to secure the funding needed to solve the club's continuing financial crisis.

The latest move comes before the next Ibrox staff salary deadline is reportedly due next week.