Forster, Ashley and partnering with Sevco

951

Congratulations to Fraser Forster on his international call-up, I am absolutely delighted for him.  It occurred to me that he left Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley’s clutches on the cheap early this summer, while Ashley had other matters in Glasgow under consideration – partnering with Sevco.

It was with customary bombast that Sir David Murray announced the deal Rangers struck with JJB Sports in 2006 to offload the club’s retail and merchandise operations to the sports retailer.  At a stroke the club banked £18m although subsequent dilapidation and redundancy costs ate into this figure.  Celtic had previously rejected a similar deal, believing that securitising future revenue streams in this manner would only swap short-term for long-term problems.

That deal perished when Rangers liquidation was announced but the Newco acquired only one retail store (outside Ibrox) and no infrastructure in place.  Instead, six weeks ago, Newco handed over retail operations to Sports Direct, who now operate its retail company, Rangers Retail Limited, and its online operation at rangersdirect.co.uk.

This deal was covered in local and retail press but lacked the bombast Murray would have brought to the occasion, perhaps because Ashley was aware that Celtic fans no longer felt comfortable spending their cash with JJB after the 2006 link-up.  Better to keep this one low-profile so as not to cannibalise sales to Celtic fans.

Whether Ashley is part-owner of Newco or just their merchandising partner is moot, Sports Direct’s interests in the Scottish market are significantly entwined with The Rangers F.C.

It is unlikely the retailer had to pay as much as £18m up front to secure his new rights but their support will be absolutely critical in quickly building their partner club into a successful force.  If they can do this while continuing to milk Celtic supporters they have knocked it off.

Chances of me buying the 125th Anniversary Kit from Sevco’s partner company are approaching zero.  My Celtic budget is for the benefit of one club only, it will not help build The Rangers.

[calameo code=000390171e0be5eb5e6ce lang=en page=2 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

951 Comments

  1. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    CaltonTongues

     

    23:38 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    Intelligent CQN guys….Let me see

     

     

    Lisa, Minxy and Lisa’s pal

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  2. petec

     

     

    23:39 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    Setting Sun

     

     

    Nice. That was an awesome period for breakthrough/crossover acts – Shamen, Chemicals, FSOL, Fluke, and, for all that they were accused of selling out after Leeroy left, the Prodigy had moments of sheer brilliance.

     

     

    http://youtu.be/e3qKkoknu6k

  3. Magnificentseven on

    prestonpans bhoys

     

     

     

    23:37 on 5 October, 2012

     

     

     

    Magnificentseven

     

    23:32 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

    4-2 to us then when a bottle of elerado was 50p!

     

     

     

    dont remember the score but didnt think there was 6 goals

  4. Gordon64 @ 23:02…

     

     

    Celtic have never before won 3 consecutive European away games.

     

     

    Another proud achievement for our fine manager.

  5. Just caght up

     

    Again congrats to glendaly and his good lady

     

    &Daniel Francis Welcome to the celtic family

     

    MAY ALL YOUR DAYS BE BLESSED

     

    Good night all HAIL HAIL

  6. philvisreturns

     

     

    Not all youtube clips I can open on BB. Blink was one of them.

     

    Re. Music. I usually have weeks with one artist. Passing is with Joe Bonamassa. I don’t think he was on CQN. Like hin very much, even his “Tea for One” of LZ is fantastic work.

  7. prestonpans bhoys on

    Magnificentseven

     

    23:46 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    yer a classic wind-up merchant……….. :-)

  8. philvisreturns

     

    23:20 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    Personally, I fear zombies and vampires are almost worn out since their early 2000′s revival in popularity. I’m writing a book about sexy [B]werewolves[/B] to catch the new mood:

     

    ==============================================

     

    if we get bored of calling THEMS zombies, we could call them werehuns, but deffo not sexy!!

  9. tommytwiststommyturns on

    Zbyszek – some of the guys in work are big fans of JB, including the album he did as part of the band Black Country Communion. He’s some guitar player!

     

     

    How’s life my friend and how are your Legia doing?

     

     

    T4

  10. Magnificentseven 23.24

     

    The whistle was blown,JD in frustration struck the ball,in the direction of the referee.i think ! Well who knows?HH

  11. Gordon

     

     

    23:47 on 5 October, 2012

     

     

    I was looking for you in crowd photos the other night…

     

     

    Am I right in saying 1 defeat in 11 european games is also a record?

  12. Magnificentseven on

    fanadpatriot

     

     

     

    23:58 on 5 October, 2012

     

     

     

    Magnificentseven 23.24

     

    The whistle was blown,JD in frustration struck the ball,in the direction of the referee.i think ! Well who knows?HH

     

     

     

    kinda my feeling as well…….big red faced ref then sent him off…..partly due to everyone in the ground rolling about laughing at him

  13. Magnificentseven on

    prestonpans bhoys

     

     

     

    23:51 on 5 October, 2012

     

     

     

    Magnificentseven

     

    23:46 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    yer a classic wind-up merchant……….. :-)

     

     

     

    no me!!! :-)

  14. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Do you know what really grinds my gears.sorry, got to say it out loud

     

     

    there are people sitting in power in yorkshire who have killed scouseres and pimped children , who still weild the same power.

     

    Last week we were told about animals who abuse their position of trust.

     

    This week we’re told about animals who abused their trust 30 years ago

     

    We should forget current criminals, celeb hostory is much more entertaining

     

    sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick

  15. tommytwiststommyturns

     

     

    Life did not change much. Thank you for asking. Legia won 2:1 and we are first, at least until Sunday afternoon. One day soon I need to sit down and write couple of words to you. Yes, Joe Bonamassa is fantastic artist. Can do everything with his guitar. What I like in his his works, he feels climates of very different music.

  16. greenlion2

     

     

    00:05 on

     

    6 October, 2012

     

    Is TinyTim about whats was his song about Mandella, Kennedy,Sands etc called?

     

     

    Think it’s called The Legends mate

  17. Greenlion2 @00:00….

     

     

    I was in there somewhere!

     

     

    Neil lost to Braga and Utrecht away and Atletico Madrid at home.

  18. prestonpans bhoys on

    right off to my kip, good night to all in celtic land and of course pish taker M7 ……….. :___________)

  19. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    GL2,

     

    listened for as long as I could, kieechech

     

    considrered opinion :o)

  20. CaltonTongues @ 23:38,

     

     

    I was sure I knew who the 3 were……until you mentioned really intelligent

     

     

    ;-)

     

     

    Unless it was the elder 2 CQNers + the other non CQNer of course…..given I was almost comatose!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  21. Magnificentseven on

    prestonpans bhoys

     

     

     

    00:17 on 6 October, 2012

     

     

     

    right off to my kip, good night to all in celtic land and of course pish taker M7 ……….. :___________)

     

     

     

    goodnight…………………… and most of it was serious!

  22. Don’t know if any of u know Sannabhoy but he was looking for me about an hour ago. Hopefully it’s about the chances of me getting my mates 9 yr old fanatic (currently in wheelchair) into the game on Sunday.

     

    If anyone knows him, tell him I can be on Cqn 3-4pm tomorrow

     

    Hail hail

  23. Gordon

     

     

    00:16 on 6 October, 2012

     

     

    I think we have went 11 games with 1 defeat Atletico. I dont think we have ever done it before

  24. greenlion2 , ramie was on last month (i think) with an update. Not heard anything else .

     

     

    Re your link , i don’t do excuses -we had a great night as we always do in the company of good Tims – i was just establishing some facts for posterity .

     

     

    Dena29 , i know , that’s why I’m looking for him. Got an idea/possible solution

     

     

    Sanna

  25. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    sannabhoy is probably in bed sleepin, best time to demand answers is in the morning, innit