Rangers are trying to attract potential investors with an eye on some day playing in the English Premier League.

The 54-times champions of Scotland, seemingly feel less loyalty to their homeland after being forced to start again this season in the fourth tier as punishment for going into liquidation.

And now the Glasgow club’s ownership believe an exit route from the Scottish leagues is becoming possible as Uefa apparently explore changing cross-border rules.

“The SPL told us face-to-face: ‘We don’t want you, you aren’t welcome,’” said Rangers chief executive Charles Green ahead of his clubs planned flotation on a London Stock Exchange market.

A planned revamp of the Scottish Premier League and the other three professional divisions below could be the club’s chance to escape.

The overhaul was announced during the off-season, just as Rangers was going into liquidation with colossal tax debts.

Rangers are due to float on London’s AIM market by the end of the year, and Green has been trying to persuade financial institutions this week that the club have a realistic chance of playing in England.

“As a football club, if Rangers were in the Premier League only Manchester United would be bigger,” Green claimed. “Arsenal haven’t got more fans than Rangers . . . the fan base is so big.”

But the barriers to playing in England are also vast, with the Premier League having already resisted previous overtures from both Rangers and Celtic. “I don’t believe the Premier League are hostile towards it because I think it’s a generalisation,” Green claimed. “Speak to Manchester United. They are not hostile to Rangers joining.”

But United quickly scotched Green’s claim. “We are not in favour of it at all. We are against it,” said Uniteds spokesman, Phil Townsend, said. “Our view is it’s the English Premier League and should remain that way.”