ian1964 10,761 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 (edited) Sports Direct Protest 2-2.45pm Saturday - Ibrox Superstore After the feedback and level of outrage due to todays press revelations we are holding a protest outside the superstore to ask ALL fans to boycott merchandise and Sports Direct. We are mindful that the game is the remembrance game and no protest will take place inside the stadium or during the game. SoS will be purchasing large safe banners to be displayed in the vicinity of the store highlighting the reasons for our boycott. To show unity in the fanbase we would ask all RSC's and groups to bring their banners. Lets get the flags out Obviously any fan wishing to purchase from the store during our protest should be allowed to do so unhindered however we would respectfully appeal to fans who may visit the store to browse to refrain from doing so during our event. Our aim is an empty store. We will not enter the store nor cause any concern to staff. Large numbers are required to make this work and we appeal to all fans who agree with the boycott to share via social media and in the real world. We will appeal for funds to help with banners and will post details soon online. Enough is enough Here before you, here after you, here forever Edited November 4, 2015 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearman 9 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Action always speaks louder than words lads...WELL DONE!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEARGER 1,830 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Due to Remembrance minute silence it may make sense to halt at 2.45-50 ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,663 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I'll be there but I'll be leaving early as Bearger suggests... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 The battle of the brands between Mike Ashley and the Rangers fans IT is the deal that is the hot topic of conversation but the one that few can talk about. It is one Rangers hope to make significant sums from, but fans fear it is hardly worth the paper it is written on at present. Once again this season, the supporters who follow in the footsteps of their team are doing so facing a familiar quandary. The man who sells the jerseys is top of the Gers agenda. The release of the latest set of Rangers accounts in the coming days will allow fans to see the bigger financial picture at Ibrox, but it is on one area where their attentions will be fixed. Much has been done and much has been achieved since the change of regime in March as Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan swept to power but the main issue, the biggest block on the road to recovery continues to slow Rangers’ progress. A High Court injunction may prevent King and his fellow directors from discussing many aspects of Rangers’ relationship with Sports Direct and Mike Ashley but the Light Blues chairman certainly got his message across last week with a swipe at the sportswear firm and their controversial owner. He spoke of refusing to be ‘cowed’ by the ongoing legal action and his desire to ensure that ‘Sports Direct is legally and financially held accountable for its failures’. For supporters who continue to boycott Sports Direct outlets and refuse to buy official Rangers merchandise, it was a welcome move. It has been followed by the revelation from the Evening Times on Tuesday that Sports Direct sent legal letters to Rangers claiming their trademark rights had been infringed by the sale of a season ticket card holder by the Sons of Struth that raised money for the Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund. And Ashley has also made moves that could see action taken against King for comments he made in a television interview earlier this year as the battle between Rangers and Sports Direct has escalated once again. In between the feud between two businessmen and amidst the contracts and the cash, fans remain in the middle, their natural instincts to help and support their club conflicted by a desire to once again play their part in forcing change at Ibrox. Many will not spend another penny on merchandise until King and Co. are able to renegotiate the terms of the Sports Direct deal for the benefit of Rangers. They are still wearing red, white and blue, though. After initially being set up to raise funds for shares, the Lionbrand range has become an alternative avenue for supporters. For an increasing number, it is the only Rangers related shirt they will wear at present. The Lionbrand items are an increasingly more common sight on match day at Ibrox or on the road amongst the Light Blue legions. As frustration and anger towards Ashley and Sports Direct has grown, so too has the determination from fans to make their voice heard. “If fans want money to go towards Rangers, they can buy the blue or white top, if they want it to go to into shares they can buy the red and black top and if they want to help Fernando Ricksen and charity then they can buy the orange one,” a Lionbrand spokesman told SportTimes. “The message is still getting out there. On the back of the news and headlines about Ashley, I have been inundated with emails from guys that want to help and do something to help us sell the merchandise and get the message across to fans. “Interest is increasing all the time, which is good for the club because all the money we raise goes back into Rangers and nothing goes to Sports Direct. “It is a choice for fans. The Lionbrand wasn’t set up to force people to put money into it. “The supplier’s costs are covered and every penny that is made has either been given to the Rangers Supporters Trust for shares or been put back into the club.” Fans may have found a solution to a problem that was not of their making but it will be King and the Ibrox board who will need to find the big answers going forward. As part of the £5million loan deal Ashley struck with the former regime earlier this year, the Newcastle United owner controls Rangers’ registered trademarks and has security over Murray Park, the Albion car park and Edmiston House. The stakes, especially for Rangers, are high and both sides have cards to play. So, too, do the fans if they continue to withhold their cash from their club. “This is a viable alternative. Merchandise is huge to Rangers but the way the deal is currently structured has to change,” the Lionbrand spokesman said. “The fans aren’t happy. Every fan wants to see the deal renegotiated. We would all love nothing better than to walk into the Megastore and buy official merchandise but I haven’t done it for years because it is simply not fair.” It is almost a year since the Union of Fans brought the small print, the pounds and the pence, of the Sports Direct deals to the attention of the wider Light Blues fan base. When the numbers are released over the next few days, they will once again make for interesting reading. For many, they will only re-affirm their position. Money talks, but sooner rather than later Sports Direct and Rangers will have to do likewise. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13934625.The_battle_of_the_brands_between_Mike_Ashley_and_the_Rangers_fans/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Rangers fans braced for Ibrox accounts as focus is fixed on Mike Ashley merchandise deals THE Rangers Supporters Trust have urged fans to stand firm in their battle with Sports Direct and businessman Mike Ashley ahead of the release of the Light Blues’ accounts. The Evening Times revealed yesterday that Sports Direct sent a legal letter to Rangers claiming their trademark rights had been infringed by the sale of a season ticket card holder by the Sons of Struth that raised money for the Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund. Supporters are continuing to boycott stores of the Ashley-owned firm and are refusing to buy official Gers merchandise due to the deals in place. Rangers’ latest set of financial figures are set to be made public in the coming days and a spokesman for the RST told SportTimes: “I would like to think we are at the stage now where the vast majority of supporters are aware of the issues with Sports Direct and the fact that the club is receiving a pittance from the deal that was put in place by Charles Green and Mike Ashley. “Now, though, it is not just a bad commercial relationship, it appears to be an openly hostile relationship between Rangers and Sports Direct. “We understand the pull of wanting to buy official merchandise but we would still say ‘don’t buy from Sports Direct or club stores at the moment’. It is not worth it. “You are effectively bolstering the Sports Direct position and it is not a helpful thing to do just now, no matter how unpalatable that might be. “Once again, we expect to see that the club receives very little from the merchandise contracts. It is not something that will be resolved easily. “The message is really simple and that will continue. It is not just Rangers fans that are realising that, either.” A High Court injunction prevents Rangers from releasing details of the controversial contracts but chairman Dave King launched a scathing attack on Sports Direct last week as he vowed to ensure the company are ‘legally and financially held accountable for its failures’. King and the Three Bears – Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor – have all reaffirmed their financial commitment to Rangers and the scale of the task ahead will become clearer when the latest set of numbers are revealed. The Trust spokesman said: “I am sure the accounts will still show that we are running at a loss and that was always expected. Dave King and the board have been very clear about the fact there is a shortfall and that they will plug the gap. “The planned share issue has obviously been postponed due to the court cases and the loans will now be converted into shares. From the statement the other day, everyone appears to be quite comfortable with that.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13934621.Rangers_fans_braced_for_Ibrox_accounts_as_focus_is_fixed_on_Mike_Ashley_merchandise_deals/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,663 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Craig has agreed that the protest should finish at around 2.45pm to allow everyone into the stadium for the minute's silence. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I missing this weeks game, but i will be up for the next one, I'll be on the picket line then. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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