Speaking to the Daily Mail, Castore co-founder Tom Beahon has addressed rumours that Mike Ashley is funding Rangers’ newly announced kit and retail supplier.
Rangers officially confirmed their partnership with the up and coming English brand on Sunday morning, with commercial director James Bisgrove claiming that it could develop into the most lucrative deal in Scottish sport [Rangers Football Club YouTube].
Various Gers executives have been at pains to assert that this deal represents a new start for the club away from the legal battles with Sports Direct which have dogged retail operations over recent seasons.
Yet, rumours persist on social media that Ashley will have some sort of influence on the deal via a controlling stake in Castore.
Tom Beahon insists that’s incorrect, though.
“We have investors who like to remain private,” he told the Daily Mail. “Our biggest investor is one of the wealthiest families in the UK.”
“For the record, it’s not Mike Ashley despite some of the things I’ve read online in the last couple of weeks.
“Our investors are backing Castore to go and achieve the vision we have to go and build a truly global brand.”
Verdict
Rangers have consistently referred to this partnership as a totally new arrangement, with club insider Four Lads Had a Dream also refuting that idea that new deal would ‘still be under the clutches of Sports Direct in some guise’.
Now that one of Castore’s co-founders has specifically denied the suggestion that Mike Ashley is their main investor, surely the rumours will be put to bed.
Fans of rival clubs have been quick to jump on the idea of the Gers selling themselves short again with regards to retail operations.
Yet, with plans to have the Megastore refurbished and back up and running for the start of the 2020/21 season, it seems clear that the club is back in control.
