DAVE KING insists Rangers investors are prepared to continue funding the fight with Sports Direct chief Mike Ashley.

The Ibrox board and billionaire businessman are involved in a lengthy dispute over the Light Blues’ merchandise streams and Rangers Retail Limited.

Supporters continue to boycott official outlets and Sports Direct stores in protest at the deals that Ashley struck with the former Gers regime.

It is likely that further legal action will be required to bring an end to the row but chairman King will not back down to the Newcastle United owner.

He said: “I think the situation with Sports Direct is something that is pretty much out of control as to what Mike Ashley might or might not do.

“What we can say on that front is that Mike Ashley will do whatever he will do and we will resist and defend it as strongly as we have done.

“What is in our control continues to be being smart about bringing resolution to the Sports Direct issue in a sensible way.

“We are very alert to the fact that it is costing the club a very substantial amount of money in legal fees that we would much rather see going into the squad.

“As far as the Mike Ashley situation is concerned, from a funding point of view we are basing our existing projections on the fact that that fight will continue for a period of time. It will continue to be funded by the existing supporters of the club.”

King was asked a series of questions about the Sports Direct situation at the RIFC plc AGM on Friday morning but was limited in what he could divulge to shareholders and supporters.

It was at his first AGM as chairman 12 months ago that King confirmed he and his directors had raised the £5million needed to repay the loan that Ashley agreed shortly before the boardroom coup in March last year.

The businessman continues to be a thorn in the side for the Light Blues board but King is refusing to concede any ground.

He said: “The last year has seen a continuation of Mike Ashley and Sports Direct’s attempts to bully your Company’s directors by suing them in their personal capacity.

“The present Board comprises supporters who signed up for this challenge and who are not intimidated in the slightest by such bullies.

“But, we couldn’t expect independent directors to be willing to serve on our Board under such circumstances.”