Rangers Set For Legal Challenge As Sports Direct Prepares To Sell Jerseys

Scottish Premiership side Rangers is considering its legal position after it emerged thousands of its replica shirts "are due to go on sale without the club's permission" on Thursday, according to Keith Jackson of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. A number of Scotland's leading high street sports shops "have been taking deliveries of the club's new-look Puma strips throughout the past 24 hours and are ready to start selling the jerseys from in store and online from Thursday morning." But that is "despite a breakdown in relations between the Ibrox club and former retail partner, Mike Ashley's Sports Direct, with the ongoing battle thundering towards the courts." Ashley's stores are "among those ready to roll out the new first, second and third kit" in a move which is "certain to heighten tensions" between Rangers Chair Dave King and the controversial billionaire. Legal discussions have been taking place behind the scenes in the past 24 hours but the club has "so far declined to make any comment" (DAILY RECORD, 8/3).