On July 1st, the folk at Sports Direct made posted this on their Facebook page:
Next up 2021, and stopping Celtic getting ten in a row 👊
Be prepared for the biggest season in a decade. New Rangers Kit lands exclusively at Sports Direct August 1st.
It immediately sent the Ibrox klanbase into something of a Quintessentially British tizzy.
In fairness, their panic was justified.
After all, they had been assured that the deal with Castor was a “new era” and a clean break with Big Mike.
I checked with my contract lawyer guy at the time and asked for some guidance on the legal import of the Sports Direct claim on exclusivity.
For the avoidance of doubt, I asked him to translate his learned take into Golden Retriever.
He was unequivocal and stated to me that if the claim on Facebook was erroneous, then the Sports Direct folk could likely see themselves on the wrong end of litigation.
Quite simply, they would be open to legal action.
So, I was left with the following scenarios to choose from:
- General Ashley’s Facebook Fusiliers had shot themselves in the foot.
- It was a statement of legal fact and Sports Direct had exclusive rights to sell Sevco’s new Castore kit.
I checked today, and the Facebook post is still on the Sports Direct page.
In ten days from now, we will know if it is (1) or (2).
On the balance of probabilities, I am forced to conclude that this is not an own goal by Sports Direct.
Rather, it is merely Big Mike reminding the other side of the deal that they have…well…a deal!
The output from Sevco PR in recent days appears to be concerned with soothing their dignified klanbase that everything is all rosy in the retail garden.
Of course, the folks in the Blue Room are assured of the succulent obedience of the Stenography Corps at all times.
That convergence of interests has remained extant since the Murray oligarch years at Ibrox.
The death of the old club in 2012 could have been a teachable moment for the Fitba Fourth estate.
Of course, dear reader, you know that no such moment of epiphany happened for the sports desks when Rangers died.
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A good dose of #CastorSpoil is just what sevco and their zombies need
The New Govan Club behaves as though rules and laws don’t apply to it.
The most recent worrying action has been playing nine players at Dundee United who were not tested clear of Covid19. These players all returned from the recent games on the continent.
This flagrant disobedience of the SFA testing agreement with ScotGov to get games up and running could close all of Scottish football back down.
The issue of public health and disregard for disease spreading, risking the elderly and those with underlying illness, singularly marks out New Rangers as utter c*nts.
Rotten system of morality.
There MUST be punishment.
I am almost giddy with excitement at how this is all unravelling.
All the indicative, and admittedly circumstantial, evidence certainly points to another miserable day in the short history of Sevco.
For the avoidence of doubt, ask Alexa when Rangers* were formed. 👍
I’m a bit confused here. There is a link to a previous article by Phil regarding when SEVCO put out that they were looking for a new kit supplier. The bit that confuses me is in their letter, were they claim that in 2022 they celebrate their 150th anniversary. How can they be 150 when they are only 10yrs old
8yrs old
For the avoidence of doubt, ask Alexa when Rangers* were formed.
With King allegedly gone big Mike will want to keep the club/business alive it’s a nice little earner for him without much work, legal team apart and his water tight contract will ensure that any slip up in the retail deal will see a court win and legals covered by sevco.
He still has a few years to go under the present contract but i wouldnt be surprised if that was negotiated into a longer deal that allowed sevco a little more wiggle room. That legal win and buy out that was heralded to remove sdi interest really was a work of business art of the highest.
Big Mike also has the rights to the ibrox megastore for the next few years at the cost of a pound a year. Genius.
phil,
sports direct seem to have dropped the ‘exclusive’ from the post..
“Next up 2021, and stopping Celtic getting ten in a row 👊
Be prepared for the biggest season in a decade. New Rangers Kit lands exclusively at Sports Direct 1st August.”
Still on Facebook.
My emphasis in bold.
Phil,
Apols. I didnt open the full post. You are correct
That is why I also put a graphic of the post up too.
I wonder if Big Mike will at some point just buy Castore- he can build it up and then in sell it later. Might be cheaper than the legal expenses
Mr Ashley doesn’t pay for his own legal expenses as he invariably gets the courts to order Sevco to pay them. Plus, I suspect he enjoys playing with them to make them sorry for the way they treated him and his team when King and the Three Bears carried out their takeover.
I think you are correct in your conclusion from the balance of probabilities, Phil.
The bigger Scottish clubs, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts are all offering their new kit for sale online. Hibs also have their second and third kits available on pre-order. Over at Ibrox I don’t think you can even buy a mug, never mind a replica kit – so something is clearly amiss regarding the commercial arm of the business with no credit line from a bank.
It does rather make a mockery of their ‘brand protection’ page when they don’t appear to be utilising their own brand in any way for commercial gain – unless of course they can’t because they have a deal elsewhere?
I’ve already stocked up on the jelly and ice cream in anticipation of Statement O’clock on the first of August.
“…succulent obedience from the Stenography Corp”… superb !
I have never pretended to know about ” business deals “…” mergers ” …” take overs ” etc…but I know confusion when I see it.
In simple terms, therefore, someone has made a complete rickets of their ” announcement ” and I await with bated breath to see who it is.
If past form is anything to go by…then Sevco has fecked up again…so let’s hope that’s the case.
My over-riding puzzlement, however, in this whole sorry saga…is…
Are Sevco still liable for ” damages ” to Big Mike ( and others ?) …as decreed previously…or has that been ” settled out of court ” ?
It seems to be taking a long time for an announcement on this to be made.
Hail hail
Let’s hope the master retailer has a few more surprises for sevco,I know the odds are in MASH’s favour.Sure,sevco have never messed up and done similar before,have they?😉
Thanks Phil🇮🇪