Ibrox chief lays down gauntlet to Ashley in legal battle
RANGERS chairman Dave King has warned of further court action in a long running legal battle with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct.
Mr King warned that court injunctions won by Mr Ashley affecting the current rights to sell club merchandise “will not be the final word”.
The businessman released a personal statement in response to a statement by Sports Direct following a judgement last Wednesday.
Mr Justice Teare last week ruled at the High Court that Rangers breached the terms of an agreement made with a company in the Sports Direct group.
The judge also granted an ‘undoing’ injunction that curbs the club’s retail partnership with the Hertfordshire-based football merchandising firm Elite Group.
Sports Direct later called on Rangers to “accept the outcome and move on” and put in place commercial arrangements with Sports Direct which would be for the benefit of Rangers fans and the club.
Mr King said: “There is no mention of what benefit such arrangements might bring to the Club and its supporters.
“I challenge Sports Direct to follow up its statement by sharing with Rangers supporters how much last season’s retail agreement benefited the club.
“In terms of profits from Sports Direct’s sale of Rangers kit under the prior agreement, the Club has still not, despite repeated requests, received a proper accounting for the retail activities or payments due under it.
“That certainly does not provide me with any comfort in dealing with Sports Direct as a partner.
“It is solely because of Sports Direct’s refusal or inability to act as expected of a normal commercial partner that Rangers now has no choice but to litigate to secure payments that are due and are long outstanding.
“My advice to Sports Direct is that whatever short-term success it might enjoy through its courtroom manoeuvrings will not affect my resolve, nor that of RIFC’s other investors to ensure the best deal for the Club and its supporters.”