Johnston: I will stop Glazer-type takeover

The Rangers chairman, Alastair Johnston, is determined to prevent Andrew Ellis – and any other potential purchaser of the club – saddling the club with the kind of debt the Glazers have brought to Manchester United.

Johnston has vowed to ask the tough questions of London-based property tycoon Ellis, who is reportedly in the process of examining the cash-strapped club's finances as he weighs up whether to make a bid for Sir David Murray's 90 per cent stake.

Johnston and a subcommittee of the club's board will forensically examine any offer from Ellis and, though they have no power to veto any takeover, their advice could sway Murray's decision to sell.

Johnston said: "The club's board are charged with upholding the reputation of Rangers and so, if any deal is in the process of being done, we will be in a position to examine it thoroughly and determine in our own minds whether it was for the good of Rangers.

"What is not of interest to us are the benefits of any deal for the Murray Group – it is the viability of Rangers under any new owner that is of supreme importance to us. We have a responsibility – morally, ethically – to be the guardians of this club.

"When any such deal like that is reaching agreement, then it is game-on as far as we are concerned. We will ask any potential new owner: how committed are you? How much money do you intend to put into Rangers? And how verifiable is that money?

"We would also want to ask any buyer: how do you propose to finance your deal for Rangers? Because what we don't want is any Glazers/Manchester United situation at Ibrox."

Johnston admits any takeover could spell the end of his short spell as Rangers chairman. "I might be at this club for years to come, or for just a matter of weeks – it depends what happens," said Johnston, who succeeded Murray in August.

"It is not a condition or even necessarily an ambition of mine that I am with Rangers for a long time. If it works out that way, fine, but I've left my briefcase by the door. I'm not in this for myself. I'm in this, I hope, for the good of Rangers, to secure the best possible future for the club."

Meanwhile, Madjid Bougherra is determined to make his comeback from injury in time to help Rangers clinch the Scottish Premier League title. The Algeria defender has been ruled out for between three and four weeks with a hamstring tear, meaning he will miss Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final, the second successive season he has sat out the showpiece fixture.

The 27-year-old has already missed half of Rangers' games this term and with the Ibrox club 13 points clear at the top of the league, there is a chance he may not return in time to lift the SPL title.

Bougherra said: "The injury is not that bad. I will be out for three or four weeks, but I want to be on the pitch if and when we win the championship. I need to rest and forget about the injury; you really can't do much with hamstrings. I am in France for a few days to rest, but I hope to be at Hampden to watch the final. I have played almost constantly for three years with club games and matches in Africa. Mentally, I need a rest too, but I will be back for the run-in and I can't wait."

Bougherra is gutted to be missing another League Cup final but is confident Rangers can beat St Mirren.

"I missed the final last year but I hope the boys can win it," he said. "All my family were at the game last year and were due to come over again.

"If I don't play, I know there is less pressure on the team because we have Danny Wilson. Danny is fantastic for his age; he needs games on this stage and I'm never afraid when he plays."