Rangers retail partners Castore are set to produce kits for Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts after striking a new deal with Umbro.
The controversial retailers have announced a new deal with the legendary brand which will allow Castore to market Umbro in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, and Denmark.
This comes after fresh £145m investment in November and marks something of a new era for Castore, who have aims to become a “multi-brand business”.
The new Umbro deal comes with Castore disrupting the global sporting influence of gargantuan retailers Nike and Adidas, the deal aimed at elevating “both Umbro and Castore to new levels”.
The deal was announced on the official Castore website.
Castore to work with Hearts after Umbro deal?
As a result of the partnership, Rangers retailers Castore now have the exclusive right to work with Umbro’s pre-existing partners from next season.
In the Scottish Premiership, this includes Edinburgh outfit Hearts, who would become only the second side north of the border to work with Castore.
Interestingly, the Umbro deal also allows Castore to make further forays into the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Luton Town and West Ham all sponsored by the retailer.
This comes after Castore controversies surrounding pre-existing kit deals at Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
Castore are also the kit manufacturers for the likes of Feyenoord, Sevilla, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Rangers retailers not going anywhere
Rangers signed a five-year deal with Castore back in 2020 at what has proven an interesting juncture for both parties.
Rangers, desperate to rebuild the Ibrox club’s retail arm after years of tumultuous Sports Direct involvement, were viewed as something of a basket case in this regard.
Castore, who had only just begun to announce themselves as a serious sports retailer, also needed a high profile gig to prove their credentials.
It’s been a mutually beneficial few years working together, with the success of the Rangers deal central to Castore’s development.
It’s clear everyone involved between the two parties has benefited over the last four seasons and with one more to run, who knows if the Gers will agree a second term.
Striking partnerships with sportspeople, teams and institutions across the globe – including Rangers captain James Tavernier – the Umbro deal represents a new direction for Castore.
