The attempted takeover of Celtic was given new credibility last night after Kenny Daglish and Jim Kerr announced they had secured backing from a leading US bank and a Scottish businessman.

The move confounded the sceptics who had doubted whether the pair had the funds to support their bid for the club. Celtic are valued at around £100 million sterling on the Stock Exchange, though financial sources said last night the consortium's bid valued the club at half that.

Dalglish and Kerr have yet to meet Fergus McCann, Celtic's chairman and managing director. The board of the plc said they awaited with interest formal detailed proposals.

Dalglish and Kerr remained optimistic: "We believe our proposals are very positive for the future of Celtic Football Club and look forward to discussing these in detail with Mr McCann."

BT Capital Partners Europe, the venture capital arm of the US bank Bankers Trust, and the Scottish businessman Jim McAvoy are part of the consortium being put together by Daglish and Kerr.

McCann yesterday concluded a loan deal for one of Liverpool's reserve goalkeepers Tony Warner, who is likely to be on the bench at St Johnstone today.

Rangers are also in the process of signing a goalkeeper, Marseille's German international Andreas Kopke.