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

The London-based agency last night claimed it was still "willing to talk to all parties" in the Ibrox take-over saga.

But the Evening Times has seen 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: their one or the Bill Ng consortium from Singapore.

The message was sent at 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 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's backing has become crucial to the Rangers take-over, given that it has the contractual rights to £27million-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 of its money 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's public line is that it would still work with The Blue Knights, but Murray's business partners believe the lack of reply to the email told its own story.

A Ticketus spokesman said: "Ticketus remain willing to talk to all parties, including both 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. "

Another bid, from the American Bill Miller, is still under consideration, although he has had no discussions with Ticketus.

Businessman Brian Kennedy, having previously withdrawn from contention, yesterday admitted he could yet reconsider his position.

"I do not want to distract the time-critical process of appointing preferred bidders," said Kennedy. "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 was cut in half during negotiations with administrators Duff & Phelps.

Paul Murray also voiced his frustration that a statement from Duff & Phelps on Monday accused the Blue Knights of withdrawing its offer to pay the deposit.

Murray said: "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.

"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 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."

Joint administrator Clark said: "We would like to inform all Rangers supporters that discussions have been held between members of the administration team and the two remaining bidders in the sale process.

"A number of issues have been examined and we have made it clear to all those involved in the bidding that it is of paramount interest to the football club that a satisfactory deal be concluded without any further delay.

"It is our intention to announce a preferred bidder this week and we can assure all supporters of the Club that we are doing everything in our power to make that happen."