Ashley has the money (£3.75 billion) to do what the hell he wants to do, and if it means upsetting a whole city ... he could not give a shit.
He acquired the naming rights to Ibrox two years ago, and retains the right to rebrand the stadium ‘at the drop of a hat’.
In an interview with the Daily Record, Rangers director Sandy Easdale revealed that former chief executive Charles Green made a deal with the Newcastle United owner in 2012.
Easdale told Record Sport: “Let’s clear this up. Charles Green had already done a deal with Mike [Ashley] on that.
"Sports Direct haven’t taken it up as yet. Mike Ashley could call it the Sport Direct Arena tomorrow.”
Ibrox Stadium
And the Record are reporting that Green spent as much as £250,000 on legal costs in an attempt to cancel the contract.
Easdale did not reveal the price of Ashley’s deal, adding that it was ‘confidential.’ But Ashley actually paid Rangers ONE POUND for the deal.
Ashley is unable to buy any new shares in the club under SFA rules forbidding him from owning more than 10 per cent of any Scottish club.
With Rangers needing to raise £4 million in funding, Easdale ruled out selling Ibrox but said he could be going cap-in-hand to Ashley.