RANGERS chairman Dave King officially club-sanctioned replica shirts may finally be available next season - bringing to an end the continuing dispute over the sales sanctioned by Sports Direct supremo Mike Ashley.

Mr King he was "cautiously optimistic" of what he called a "proper kit launch" next season - despite the ongoing battle with Sports Direct supremo Mike Ashley over merchandise rights.

In August, sportswear giant Puma said it had the right to put Rangers shirts up for sale for this season, despite the club's objections.

The club signalled that it could even dump the Puma strip which it said was released without its consent and replace it with a new kit midway through this season.

The Herald:

The move was seen as an extreme option among a number of moves Ibrox executives were exploring following the breakdown of their relationship with the sportswear firm and Mike Ashley's Sports Direct empire.

Puma, insisted they have a legal right to sell and market the kit under the terms of their five-year kit deal agreed in 2013. Next season is thought to be the last season of that deal agree by former chief executive Charles Green.

Puma said the kits are in the market in "full compliance" with the sponsorship and licensing agreement it has with Rangers Retail - the controversial joint venture set up between Rangers and Sports Direct - which is controlled by Mike Ashley.

Fans group Sons of Struth refused to call off its boycott of club merchandise which was launched in protest against the retail deal with the Mike Ashley company, until Rangers announce an acceptable merchandise deal.

In May, last year, Rangers withdrew exclusive rights to use the club's trademarks given to Rangers Retail, set up under the previous Ibrox management, unhappy at the return it was getting.

The Herald:

It comes as Mr Ashley awaits a judge's ruling after becoming embroiled in a High Court fight with Rangers over the merchandise deal said to result in the Glasgow soccer giant getting about 7p of every £1 spent.

Bosses at a company within the Sports Direct group say Rangers' directors wrongly terminated a deal through which branded products, including kits, were sold, and want damages.

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On Sports Direct, Mr King said: “I can’t give a specific update in terms of the contractual issues because that’s still subject to the confidentiality agreements, but I think we’re probably closer than we have been to the possibility of having something in place in time for the kit launch for the new season.

“It’s not done but we are hoping to make progress in that direction. So, as we are sitting here today, we really are trying very very hard to have something in place for the supporters in time to have a proper kit launch in time for the new season.

The Herald:

“While it is far from being a certainty I’m, let’s say, cautiously optimistic that we might get to that point."

After the unsanctioned kits were put on sale this season, Puma said the kits were designed in collaboration with Rangers over a period of months and final approval was received from the club last year in line with production schedules.

The playing kit was delivered to the club, and the players played all pre-season friendlies in the kit, Puma has said.

It distributed it's Forever Ready promotional material featuring Rangers stars to plug the release of the 2016/17 club kit.

The Herald:

The Rangers Retail set up has been a long-lasting area of controversy and at the end of 2014 the Rangers Supporters Trust launched an alternative shirt for fans as they took on Mr Ashley - and said all profits would be ploughed back into an increased shareholding in their club.

The previous 10-year merchandise agreement with sports retailer JJB Sports rubber stamped in 2006, was worth a minimum of £48 million to the club. The club got an initial payment of £18 million when they launched an Umbro home kit and were guaranteed a minimum annual royalty of £3 million in each year of the licence.