Robert Sarver is the owner of NBA team Phoenix Suns

The owner of Phoenix Suns basketball team external-link has made an £18m offer to buy a controlling stake in Rangers.

Robert Sarver, an American financier, made the offer just after Christmas in an email to Rangers International Football Club chairman David Somers.

Sarver, 52, asked the board to call a general meeting to ask shareholders to approve the issuing of new shares.

Subsequent share purchases by Douglas Park's group and make his bid unlikely to succeed as it stands.

Sarver, who also owns the Phoenix Mercury Women's National Basketball team, submitted his offer at the same time to WH Ireland, which manages RIFC's listing on the Alternative Investment Market.

The American, who is chief executive officer of Western Alliance Bancorporation, which is listed onthe New York Stock Exchange, was also prepared to spend an additional £15m to buy out any remaining shareholders should his offer have been accepted.

The Phoenix Suns website describes Sarver as "a soccer dad" who enjoys watching his boys play for Junior Suns

He was initially committed to buying 100% of Rangers, but with Park, George Letham and George Taylor now owning almost 20%, and King almost 15%, that is unlikely. At least another 15% is held by supporters who are unlikely to want to sell their shares.

At least 75% of shareholders would have to agree to new shares being issued to a non-shareholder at a general meeting, after resolution nine was defeated at the annual general meeting in December.

However, the BBC has learned Sarver is prepared to work