The Rangers megastore will now only be open on match days, as Mike Ashley and Sports Direct feel the pinch of a fan boycott.
The Sports Direct group took out a 10-year lease on the property in January 2015 for a staggering £1 per year. It won’t run out until 2025.
But fans have responded by refusing to buy merchandise out of the property, instead, flocking to the new store in Glasgow City Centre. Now it looks to have closed its doors unless Rangers are playing.
https://twitter.com/MBS1872/status/1139493077977063426
Such has been the lack of activity the Megastore has clearly felt the need to cut back the hours. Even on match days, the group will be lucky to make any money from supporters, at least from those in the know.
That said, this is further evidence of the ongoing situation with Mike Ashley. The Sports Direct boss continues to be involved behind the scenes and with impending court judgements over merchandise to come, could be for a while longer.
In the latest round of legal battles, High Court Judge Lionel Persey has made his decision but it is yet to be made public.
He is making a decision over claims that Rangers never gave Sports Direct the opportunity to match another firm’s bid to sell kits. Rangers refute the claim.
The entire thing is very tiresome, and it is about time Rangers got a clean break to make money for the club from their extensive retail potential.
Before we indulge in the store closing its doors, there’s still plenty more to come from the battle with Sports Direct.
Let’s just hope it is favourable to the club and not the big, bullish business of Mike Ashley.
The burly businessman might not be a football club owner for long either.
