Rangers are back in legal fight over kit merchandise

Bosses at Rangers Football Club are embroiled in a fresh merchandise deal row with Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, less than three months after a High Court judge said both sides should “try to make peace”.

In a High Court hearing in London in late July, Mr Justice Phillips was told a dispute over the terms of the deal had been settled.

But lawyers representing the two sides were back at the court yesterday after Mr Ashley complained of a breach of contract by Rangers.

Bosses at Rangers dispute the complaint.

Mr Justice Phillips heard in July how a deal, which allows a company in the Sports Direct group to sell replica Rangers kits and other branded products, was expiring.

He had been told bosses at Rangers wanted to sign a new deal with a third party, but SDI Retail Services executives objected and said they should have a chance to match any new offer.

The judge had been due to analyse evidence about the meaning of a contract clause at a trial. But lawyers representing both sides told him out-of-court agreements had been made. The judge said Rangers had accepted claims made by SDI bosses.

The judge was told more than £500,000 had been spent on lawyers.