There is a lot going on at Rangers just now with a painful reminder until the end of the season of what has been lost set to hit hard.
If they are to be successful on the pitch, stability and structure off the pitch has to be secured and it looks like the San Francisco 49ers takeover will be completed soon.
It’s a start; however, a new Rangers manager is needed as well as serious work to a squad that has gaps and inadequacies all over it.
Add this to Patrick Stewart looking to appoint a sporting director, and it is little wonder how disjointed the club has been since last year.
Another issue that has been reported, but not announced, is that Rangers are to move from Castore to Umbro in terms of the current merchandising deal, and yet no details have been given.
Rangers set for kit change from Castore to Umbro
With the season only having a few weeks left, it is usually the time of year when images start to leak.
This time last year, the first images of the 2024/25 home kit emerged and Umbro’s first offering won’t be far away.
The split isn’t exactly what it looks like.
Castore now have a licensing agreement with Umbro with the fledgling sportswear company hoping that it will take them to the next level.
After an aggressive start, Castore have seen clubs like Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen all end deals in what was a blow to their long term plans and dent to their ego.
Have Castore been a good commercial partner?
On reflection, Castore’s strips have been well received with more hits than misses.
Complaints about quality have subsided over the years and the biggest issue has been the size of range produced every season.
Three kits and multiple training/travel ranges mean that there is something for everyone, but not everyone can be pleased.
Every season has seen a commemorative or fourth kit and it will be hoped that Umbro focus on quality, rather than quantity.
Castore used to refer to the past in terms of some of their kit designs and Umbro certainly has a few templates that would prove to be popular.
Five previous Rangers kits that Umbro could replicate
One thing that can be said for Umbro, is that a lot of their kits are associated with success.
Think about the late-eighties and Walter Smith’s second spell as Rangers manager and it could be a good omen for whoever takes the reins next.
Rangers home strip 1987-89
There was a similar pattern, but different collar in the 2022/23 Castore version.
Rangers home strip 2012/13
Simple, but effective, it’s just a shame that it was worn in such a forgettable season.
Rangers home strip 2010/11
Umbro kept it clean with a rugby style collar but it remains a timeless classic from a title winning season.
Rangers home strip 2009/10
The inspiration for Rangers home kit in 2023/24, it typifies the sort of styling that Umbro go for – unfussy, uncluttered, stylish.
Rangers away strip 2008/09
Worn primarily with blue shorts, there’s not many strips more stylish that a white Rangers away strip with red and blue detailing.
Notable mentions go to the 2010/11 and 2011/12 away strips, but as a whole, Umbro rarely missed the mark, apart from maybe the 2005/06 all navy third strip that looked more like a training kit.
Edit: As if by magic, a potential leak has emerged on social media with an Umbro kit that is almost identical to Rangers’ 2008/09 away strip. The one pictured above.
Honestly, we had no idea……
