SPORTS Direct billionaire Mike Ashley is poised to take control of the rights to both of the famous Rangers emblems.
The Newcastle United supremo has come under increasing scrutiny over his influence at Ibrox after manoeuvring to take effective control of The Rangers Football Club Ltd (TRFC), a subsidiary that holds the club retail rights.
Fans' groups are known to be angry that Mr Ashley has been handed increasing power at Ibrox in exchange for a £2 million emergency loan to the club, which has to be paid off in six months.
It has emerged his hold over TRFC gives him effective control of Rangers Retail Limited, which has an exclusive licence to use both Rangers crests - including the famous "Ready" logo - on merchandise..
The firm was jointly set up by Mr Ashley's Sports Direct and the club. TRFC has control of Rangers Retail, with 51 per cent of the shares against Sports Direct's 49 per cent, while both had two directors in the boardroom. The TRFC representatives, Graham Wallace and Philip Nash, have resigned from the Rangers International Football Club plc board and all subsidiaries, including Rangers Retail.
Two of Mr Ashley's representatives are expected to replace Mr Wallace and Mr Nash on the TRFC board, whose chairman is Sandy Easdale, an ally of the magnate.
It has emerged that TRFC licensed the badges for use exclusively by Rangers Media Limited earlier this year. This gives permission for use of the crests on items including clothing, car accessories, hair products, luggage, home furnishings and footballs, jewellery, golf equipment, stationery, flags, calendars, gifts and confectionery.
The rights relate to the RFC Scroll crest and the circular "Ready" crest.
Amended trademark documents reveal the licence representatives are IBML Legal, part of Sports Direct's licensing division.
It was responsible for acquiring sporting brand names including Slazenger, Dunlop, Lonsdale, Everlast, Kangol, Karrimor, No Fear, Lillywhites, Donnay and Carlton.
Barry Leach, the chief executive of IBML, was one of two consultants brought in by Sports Direct to hold discussions with Rangers executives.
Rangers declined to comment.
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