Sports Direct International has added charges against the Elite Group to their long running fued with the club from Ibrox.
The warring parties were back in front of Judge Lionel Persey QC at the High Court this morning over the multiple breaches by Dave King of the retail deal he struck in June 2017.
Last summer Elite and Hummel appeared on the scene to manufacture and retail a brand new kit deal but the handbrake was put on that by Sports Direct after they were excluded from matching rights.
After a High Court hearing in June this year a lengthy judgement was published which validated the complaints raised by Mike Ashley’s firm and promised them ‘millions of pounds’ in damages.
No agreement has yet been reached on the damages although the Ibrox club will have to fund the legal costs for SDI which is expected to be close to £1m.
The Press Association covered today’s hearing with the Aberdeen based Evening Express reporting on a new aspect of the damages claim:
SDI has now made allegations about a sports clothing company, the Elite Group, Rangers had made an agreement with – and more allegations about Rangers. Judge Persey oversaw a preliminary hearing in that latest stage of the litigation at the High Court in London on Wednesday. He 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?”
Despite being found in breaxh of contract and told that the Hummel deal won’t be valid next season Elite have continued to distribute and sell the current kit.
Allowance will need to be made in the club accounts for the scale of damages owed to Sports Direct International.