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Mike Ashley back in court as he pushes for his Ibrox pay out

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Image for Mike Ashley back in court as he pushes for his Ibrox pay out

Sports Direct has appealed against a decision that the club from Ibrox can take legal action to recover money they claim that they are owed by LBL Sports Apparel and Hummel.

In the summer of 2018 former Ibrox chief Dave King announced an exciting new strategic partnership with Hummel that brought an end to the deal agreed with Sports Direct. Or so the gullible thought.

Sports Direct put a halt to the exciting new kits being launched in time for the summer market with limited numbers available online from the end of September 2018.

A succession of legal challenges followed with Hummel ending their exciting new partnership two years into their three year deal soon after Sports Direct were promised many millions of pounds in compensation for having their binding matching contract ignored.

Hummel refused to hand over a sum that the Ibrox club claimed that were owed with a virtual hearing on Wednesday to discuss whether that claim could continue.

The Sun reports:

SDI Retail Services, a company in Mr Ashley’s Sports Direct Group – which in 2019 changed its name to Frasers Group, had complained about Rangers being in breach of obligations under deals relating to replica kit.

Lawyers representing SDI have now challenged a ruling made in January by Judge Lionel Persey at a High Court hearing. Lord Justice Underhill, Lord Justice Baker and Lord Justice Phillips oversaw a virtual Court of Appeal hearing on Wednesday.

Judge Persey had concluded that Rangers had breached an agreement with SDI by doing a deal with LBJ Sports Apparel and Hummel, appeal judges heard. But he also decided that Rangers could still take legal action in an attempt to get money they say they are owed under the deal with LBJ Sports Apparel and Hummel.

SDI has mounted an appeal against that ruling. Rangers’ bosses say SDI’s appeal should be dismissed. Appeal judges are expected to announce their decision in the near future.

The hearing above appears to be separate from the Sports Direct claim over the loss of millions by the club wilfully breaking the Matching Agreement set up by King in the summer of 2017 which replaced the seven year rolling contract of 2012 by founding father Charles Green.

With Sports Direct challenging the Hummel aspect there can be no doubting the determination of Mike Ashley to be compensated for having his 2017 Matching Agreement broken a year later.

New Ibrox partners Castore Sport are reported to be front runners for next seasons Newcastle United kit. Sports Direct and Frasers (both owned by Mr Ashley) are the only UK High Street retailers stocking the current Castore Sports Ibrox kit.

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