Files relating to correspondence between Dave King and Paul Murray are to be included in a damages claim raised by Sports Direct.
The dynamic duo seized control of Ibrox in March 2015 with the retail and merchandise deal with Sports Direct an early target for the new regime roared on by an angry mob of supporters.
Over the next few years King seemed constantly at war with Mike Ashley’s empire as he played to the gallery while running up legal costs.
In June 2017 King declared victory over Sports Direct while asking fans to buy out the end of season stock. Later that year it was revealed that the South African based businessman had agreed to pay £3m for a new retail deal that provided Sports Direct with matching rights.
Hummel arrived to a fanfare in the summer of 2018 but before the kit hit the shops Sports Direct hit them with injunctions with the Danish firm cutting short their three year contract.
Being outsmarted by King would have been commercial suicide for Ashley who has patiently went down the legal route to recover every penny, tellingly all of the action has taken place in the English courts.
Most Scottish media outlets have avoided covering the issue but today, The Herald reveals:
FILES held by former Rangers chairmen Dave King and Paul Murray are to be included in a search for documents to be disclosed in a multi-million pound damages claim over an alleged merchandise deal breach over the club’s agreements with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct.
A judge has ruled that they should be treated as ‘custodians’ – people whose files are searched for over legal disclosures relevant to the case – along with former commercial director Scott Steedman.
It is the latest twist over the bitter battle between Rangers and Sports Direct after a judge previously stated the club had breached a legal agreement allowing a Sports Direct subsidiary to make an offer over club merchandising, including the Scottish Premiership leaders’ replica kits.
In July, 2019, Judge Lionel Persey said that Rangers had breached an agreement with Sports Direct over the club’s kit deal. He ruled Mr Ashley’s company should have been given the chance to match a shirt deal struck with Hertfordshire-based football merchandising firm Elite and sportswear firm Hummel thought to be worth £10m. A damages hearing was expected to follow.
Sports Direct are the only High Street outlet selling the current Castore kit.