THEIR arrival would usually be greeted with queues outside shops and serious publicity in the media, but the first sale of Rangers’ new replica strips caused nothing but a massive furore yesterday.
Fans’ groups urged supporters not to buy the near-£100 kit, as they sided with the club in its dispute with the suppliers and main retailers.
In the latest episode of the long-running saga of bitterness between the current board of Rangers and Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Newcastle United, the club claimed that the sale of new home, away and third-choice strips went ahead without its approval and that the two directors of Rangers Retail Limited (RRL) put there by the club – Paul Murray and chairman Dave King – were not even consulted.
The club is in dispute with Mike Ashley over the terms of a contract between his operation and Rangers’ previous ownership under Charles Green, who took over Rangers along with his associates when the Ibrox club went into administration in 2012.
Dave King has announced that RRL – the club and Sports Direct are co-owners of the firm – is dead in the water, and that the club retains the intellectual property (IP) rights to the club’s badge, which appears on the replica shirts.
Nevertheless, manufacturers Puma has an arrangement with Sports Direct, owned by Ashley, for the store chain to sell the shirts, which can cost up to £59.99 for the home shirt. A full 2016-17 home kit at the recommended price would cost £98.
Puma shipped the first batch of shirts and shorts to Sports Direct and other sports shops across Scotland and Mike Ashley’s firm started to sell them at a discount, especially online, where the men’s and women’s home shirts can be had for £47.99.
A Puma press release stated: “We understand the rich heritage that is intrinsic to Rangers Football Club and as the team return to the Scottish Premiership, we wanted to deliver a kit that was worthy of this.
“With just a few days to go until the season starts we wish the team the very best of luck in what is set to be such an exciting season for both the club and fans.”
The statement added: “Puma’s agreement with RRL remains in full effect.
“Accordingly, after taking legal advice, Puma continues to uphold its contract with Rangers Retail Limited and has fulfilled its obligations to manufacture and deliver the kits to the playing and coaching staff, as well as to Puma’s retail customers with the knowledge of all parties, including Rangers FC.”
Main supporters’ group Club 1872 has called on all fans to boycott the new shirts, and some shops such as Greaves Sports have received shirts but say they won’t be selling them until the dispute is resolved.
An earlier statement on the Rangers website said: “Since terminating the IP Licence and Rights Agreement with Rangers Retail Limited, the Club has made its best efforts to engage with Puma on an agreed way forward without the involvement of Sports Direct for the manufacture of replica kits and other merchandise to supporters.”
It explained: “During discussions it emerged that Puma had manufactured some replica kit after receiving purchase orders directly from Sports Direct and without the prior knowledge or agreement of the Club and its directors on the Rangers Retail Limited board, Paul Murray and David King.”
An IP expert told The National: “This can only end in the courts. Rangers will want to defend their IP rights, but Ashley has a deal with Puma and will want to protect that.”
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