THE RANGERS board have launched a probe following revelations Mike Ashley owns all the rights to the club's trademarks.

 

The famous badges, including the 'Ready' and 'scroll' crests are understood to be owned by the Sports Direct Tycoon along with all the Light Blue's intellectual property.

This even includes the club mascot Broxi Bear.

Documents on social media are understood to have revealed the details, stunning the recently installed regime.

Now the Ibrox board have launched an investigation 'as a matter of urgency'.

A Rangers spokesman said: "The board are currently reviewing all contractual documents but this issue will be looked upon as a matter of urgency."

Shane Nicholson, editor of Rangers site TheCoplandRoad.org, has been keeping tabs on the issue since last autumn and said he was not surprised by the investigation.

Mr Nicholson said: "I'm not shocked at today's revelations; it's something we've been investigating for quite a while but were ultimately unable to get any concrete answer out of the board during the old regime.

"It was obviously in their best interests to stonewall any fans doing any real digging.

"I've been checking the registry consistently since the [autumn], at least once a month. and now suddenly every mark affiliated with RFC ltd is owned by Sports Direct.

"The only thing that's brought it to the forefront now is that in order to protect Ashley and Sports Direct's unwarranted position over our merchandising income the previous board had to give SD firm control over the brand marks before their exit at the EGM."

The Light Blues fanwelcomed the board immediate reaction to the revelations and added: "I'm confident in their ability to navigate toward a positive outcome for Rangers via whatever means necessary."