Rangers return for court hearing

LAWYERS representing Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and Rangers refused to give journalists paperwork outlining detail of allegations and denials after the start of another High Court fight relating to merchandise deals.

A company in the Sports Direct Group, SDI Retail Services, has complained about Rangers being in breach of obligations under deals relating to replica kit.

Bosses at the Glasgow football club have disputed claims made against them.

Rangers lost a round of the fight in October 2018 and another round in July.

Judge Lionel Persey yesterday oversaw a preliminary hearing in a fresh round of the fight.

SDI has now made allegations about a sports clothing company, the Elite Group, Rangers had made an agreement with – and made further allegations about Rangers.

Little detail of claims and counter claims emerged at the hearing.

All sides had outlined their respective cases to the judge in written “skeleton arguments”.

But lawyers representing SDI and Rangers refused to give copies of those skeleton arguments to journalists covering the hearing.

In July, Rangers posted a message on its website to “reassure supporters” after suggesting that some reports about the case had been inaccurate.

A spokesman said “contrary to some reports” a decision on damages had not been made.

Judge Persey said he was “slightly disturbed” about how much court time was being taken up while overseeing the latest of a series of hearings.

He asked whether mediation had been considered and told lawyers that he was firing a “little shot across the bows”.

Judge Persey is due to oversee a further hearing on January 17.

“I am slightly disturbed about how much of the court’s time is being taken up with these issues,” the judge told lawyers.

“This is a little shot across the bows.”

He added: “Has any consideration been given to mediation?”