Sports Direct head Mike Ashley has won a victory in the latest, drawn-out legal battle between Rangers and his retail company.
The judge presiding over the case has adjudged that Rangers were incorrect to enter a retail deal with Hummel/Elite Group before offering SDI the chance to match it.
But whilst the ruling might be a victory of the corporate moneymen of the game, it’s a major loss for football and its fans.
The notion that Mike Ashley, Sports Direct or anyone connected to his retail empire is good for Rangers is a crazy one.
The Cockney businessman has been bad news for Rangers since he got so involved with the club.
It’s very much the same at Newcastle, were his lack of ambition has a northern giant stagnant if not going backwards.
In the aftermath of 2012, Ashley’s men were akin to vultures and sought to completely sew up Rangers’ merchandising.
The rights were sold to Ashley by men now considered enemies of the club and yet after they are long gone, Ashley’s not inconsiderable presence still painfully lingers on in the background.
Rangers fans have done everything they can to dampen his influence. But boycotts and bullishness haven’t forced the group to release their grip.
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There is absolutely no doubt that Rangers are better off in a retail deal with Hummel and the Elite Group.
You have to feel that the health of the club was the basis of Rangers’ argument.
Yet here we are, years on, still bickering with a retail partner who would rather see us flop than the supporters enjoy the merchandise of their football club.
It’s a hollow victory for Ashley but an extremely significant one for Rangers.
Regardless of the damage he is doing at Ibrox or the conditions within which his ropey merchandising deal was signed, it’s still more important than the thoughts and feelings or supporters.
And there’s something very, very wrong with that.
