The Sun has broken ranks and published criticism of the Ibrox board following the latest legal decision going in favour of Sports Direct.
The judgement revealed that damages of ‘many millions of pounds’ were being sought which did bring about a few critical comments from Ibrox fans on social media.
Earlier this week fan group Club 1872 produced a statement very supportive of the stance taken by the club with Mike Ashley and Sports Direct predictably painted as the villains of the piece. Almost all fans fell in line claiming ‘Good Statement’.
Any sensible analysis of the case and the ruling would be critical of the way the Ibrox board went about excluding Sports Direct in contravention of their 2017 ‘matching rights’ contract with Judge Lionel Persey QC highlighting the dishonesty of James Blair.
Sitting on the board of Club 1872 and the football company it seems that Blair has a clear conflict of interest with the fans group pouring in millions of pounds to keep the lights on as their shareholding is diluted.
Former Labour MP, and a prolific claimer of expenses, Brian Donohue spent a short time as a director of Club 1872 before resigning and issued a blistering attack on the nodding dog approach made by the so called independent fans group.
The Sun reports Donohue saying: “Having read the judgement, which is the final element that can be expressed, I am astounded that heads haven’t rolled at this stage. If Rangers Football Club is to protect its reputation, a number of individuals should be considering their positions. There are two major players on both sides and, almost like a street fight, common sense hasn’t prevailed.”
Despite the judgement being widely discussed on social media it was 12 hours before the first mainstream outlet, the Daily Record passed comment, afterwards other publishers began to repeat details of the 28 page judgement.
Donohue added: “On the basis of the actual statements that have come out of some supporters’ organisations, it would be hard to say the lunatics haven’t taken over the asylum.
“I’d just ask fans with intellect to read the judgement themselves and come to their own conclusions. I’ve come to mine. The deflection of the reality of the situation is of major concern. People should wake up and smell the coffee.”
Having turned to Close Brothers to keep the lights on last season a £10m payout to Sports Direct and termination of their merchandising income could have far reaching implications for the Ibox club with Steven Gerrard’s spending plans put on hold as they attempt to shift Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier.
Talks about a 12 month contract extension for Andy Halliday have stalled increasing the prospects of the journeyman signing a pre-contract agreement elsewhere in January.