New rules would see greater penalties for clubs in administration and clubs who undergo an "insolvency transfer", which would see them docked 10 points for two seasons and 75% of their SPL income for three years.

The vote was previously adjourned for seven days during which time USA businessman Bill Miller was granted preferred bidder status by the administrators.

Miller plans to move Rangers' assets, including their share in the SPL, players and premises, to a newco whilst the debts of the existing business are dealt with by Duff and Phelps, with the hope that the two companies are merged at a future date.

Rangers were not represented at today's meeting at Hampden, which lasted over five hours, and afterwards SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster revealed that the administrators had submitted a written request for the adjournment while they try to finalise the sale of the club.

Doncaster denied denied he was presiding over a shambles as he explained the reason for another delay.

"I think that is very unfair," he said.

"We know that passions are running high, we know this is a very sensitive time for Scottish football and we know that a lot of things are at stake.

"So it is very important that people take time to make the right decisions and are balanced in their approach.

"We had a request just before the meeting started from the administrators of Rangers to adjourn the meeting.

"The administrators, I think, felt it was appropriate that any new owner of Rangers should be involved in discussions around the sorts of issues that were considered today and the clubs agreed with that."

Perhaps the most significant thing to emerge from the meeting was that a rule change has been proposed to ensure that all the clubs will vote on whether or not a Rangers newco is allowed into the SPL.

Under current rules, an application for transfer of share to a newco would be ruled upon by the SPL board, which comprises Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping, Celtic director Eric Riley, Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown and Motherwell director Derek Weir.

With an 8-4 voting system in place for that issue, it would need five dissenting clubs to deny entry to a Rangers newco, an unlikely scenario despite the bad feeling towards the Ibrox club in some quarters.

Doncaster said: "What the clubs have agreed to today, is that any decision on the transfer of share to a newco should go before clubs rather than the board.

"I think there is a real recognition, particularly from the club representatives on the board, that it puts them in a very difficult situation.

"So the unanimous view of the 11 clubs who were represented in person today was that the right thing to do was let the clubs to make that decision.

"Currently the rules state that the decision should be made by the board. The current rules will remain in play until the May 30.

"There is 21 clear days notice to change the rules so there will be a further general meeting on May 30, there will be a rule decision changed to take that decision back to the clubs.

"If an application for a transfer comes in before the 30th May then clearly the board will have to consider that application under the current rules but the board have indicated that they will bring all the clubs together at that point and consult fully with them and take their views on board. So ultimately the clubs will have a say."

Last week it was reported that Miller had been given some "comfort" in his talks with the football authorities in Scotland but Doncaster denied any deal had been done.

He said: "There have been talks ongoing over the last few weeks, we have been dealing with Duff and Phelps on a regular basis.

"But no decision on the transfer of share has been made by the SPL board or by the members.

"Indeed no application has been received so ultimately no assurances can be given because a decision can only be made once an application has been received.

"At the moment he (Miller) is clearly carrying out due diligence on the club he is intending to buy, it is the next stage that we and the clubs get involved.

"There is no decision to make at the moment."

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston, who is openly against an SPL share being transferred to a newco, said: "We need to know more information, we were hoping it would get resolved at this meeting.

"We all want to make quick decisions and come out with what the story is but we don't have enough information."

Duff and Phelps released a statement which said: "As administrators we have a duty to act in the interests of the club, hence the reason for us tabling a proxy vote in case any decisions were reached today.

"As far as voting on longer-term constitutional issues, we felt this is something that is more a matter for a new owner."