Puma confirmed Scottish Premiership side Rangers' new kits "have gone on sale despite the club's opposition," according to the PA. The sportswear firm announced the release of the new home, away and third strips "amid calls for a boycott by Rangers' official fans' group." Rangers said on Wednesday that it was "surprised and disappointed" that kits had been manufactured for sale amid its ongoing dispute with Sports Direct and its owner, Ibrox shareholder Mike Ashley. A Puma press release, ahead of Sports Direct stores opening, stated, "We understand the rich heritage that is intrinsic to Rangers Football Club and as the team return to the Scottish Premiership, we wanted to deliver a kit that was worthy of this." The club and Sports Direct are joint owners of Rangers Retail Ltd., but the Ibrox board "is trying to terminate the deal and withdrew the intellectual property licence and rights agreement in May." Puma insisted it was releasing replica kits into the market in "full compliance with the sponsorship and licensing agreement" it has with RRL (PA, 8/4). THE SCOTSMAN reported Glasgow company Greaves Sports "performed a U-turn" and is refusing to sell new Rangers kits without the club's permission. The firm had earlier said that kits would go on sale, but changed its stance "after Puma confirmed new Rangers kits have gone on sale despite the club’s opposition." Owner Sandy Greaves said, "We were planning to sell them in the morning until we read the Record report online. We had assumed Puma and Rangers had an agreement but that doesn’t seem to be the case. We have decided not to sell the strips until we receive clarification from the club that they are happy" (THE SCOTSMAN, 8/4).
