Mark Dingwall, co-founder of the Rangers Supporters Trust and editor of the Follow Follow fanzine, bought a Sports Direct share so he could request the register of shareholders and lobby them over his concerns.
He says Sports Direct responded by making an application to the Companies Court in London to refuse the request and any future request "whether made by Mark Dingwall or any other person" to inspect or have a copy of the register "where the only purpose given for the request is to enable members to be contacted, without identifying the subject matter and purpose of such contact".
Mr Dingwall placed details of the Sports Direct legal action online and stated the Sports Direct had also applied for him to pay the costs of the hearing set for 11.30am on April 14.
Mr Dingwall has now gone to Rangers fans to help him with the costs.
In a letter to Cameron Olsen, the company secretary of Sports Direct and Rangers Retail, Mr Dingwall said he wanted to "canvass my fellow shareholders as to whether they would be willing to support resolutions to end the use of zero-hours contracts and to review the terms of the retail agreements with Rangers International Football Club plc to ensure that these generate sales revenue that benefits shareholders rather than the current agreements which whilst appearing to be favourable are generating low sales volumes due to the level of hostility amongst the public to what are viewed as unfair terms."
Mr Ashley's Sports Direct now owns Rangers Retail and has ownership over many of the club's precious trademarks.
Mr Dingwall said he was contemplating engaging a lawyer to fight the case.
He said: "By moving to strike out my request; and specifically to set the precedent that neither I nor any other shareholder can in the future obtain a copy of the register; Sports Direct are seeking to remove one vital right whereby shareholders can seek to enforce their rights by lobbying other investors in the company."
Last month it emerged that Sports Direct was facing a claim for millions of pounds from nearly 300 workers who were left out of a multi-million bonus scheme because they were on zero-hours contracts.
Up to 90 per cent of the workforce of 20,000 at Sports Direct are estimated to be on zero-hours contracts, which do not come with sick pay, holidays and do not guarantee a set number of hours a week.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/u/rangers-fan-in-legal-battle-with-sports-direct-over-shareholder-campaign-to-review-club-retai.1427450287
Thoughts........
Mark Dingwall & Sports Direct
posted on 27/3/15
comment by JukeboxJunkie - A wrong decision is better tha... (U10162)
posted 37 minutes ago
I agree that zero hours contracts are horrible, but without them many of these employees would be on the dole or very short hour contracts.. Probably 4-6hour contracts.
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That is about 10% of the people on zero hours contracts, it's disgusting, just because you have very few prospects of employment doesn't mean you sould be exploited by blood sucking vultures
posted on 27/3/15
There was a girl on question time last night who said she doesn't know from one day to the next what her hours are, could be 10 hours could be 5 or 2, doesn't know what days she has to work, needs to phone in, she gets no holiday pay, sick pay or any other benefits, she works in a cinema
posted on 27/3/15
I know, I'm not condoning them.
All I'm saying is that the alternative (which should happen) is companies putting them onto very low hour contracts, or short term contracts. They will at least have holiday pay, but it again won't equate to much due to the lack of hours worked.
Unfortunately for a lot of people out there, they happen to be either unemployable, either through lack of education or experience.
posted on 27/3/15
comment by JukeboxJunkie - A wrong decision is better than indecision. (U10162)
posted 34 minutes ago
I know, I'm not condoning them.
All I'm saying is that the alternative (which should happen) is companies putting them onto very low hour contracts, or short term contracts. They will at least have holiday pay, but it again won't equate to much due to the lack of hours worked.
Unfortunately for a lot of people out there, they happen to be either unemployable, either through lack of education or experience.
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not all zero hour contracts are bad - at times the way they are administered can be but the principle suits a lot of folks such as students
i like big mike
posted on 27/3/15
Belly versus belly
posted on 28/3/15
he isnt pulling the strings...?
does he have to given he has security over most things red white and blue these days?
posted on 28/3/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/3/15
comment by (U20147)
posted 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
he isnt pulling the strings...?
does he have to given he has security over most things red white and blue these days?
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Edminston house isn't red white and blue neither is the Albion car park, his securities over them will be removed once his loan is paid back, wether you like it or not he isn't pulling any strings at ibrox, I'm sure you will get over it eventually
posted on 28/3/15
Murray and his fellow directors have been examining the Glasgow club's books since taking power at an EGM earlier this month.
He revealed this week that the general meeting had cost £300,000 and the SPFL Championship club were paying for all five Newcastle United loan players.
And he also confirmed the club, who have agreed an interest-free £1.5 million loan with The Three Bears consortium, would not accept a second £5 million loan with Ashley.
The oldco director stressed to supporters in an interview with Rangers TV that "there is nothing we have found so far that we didn't expect".
And he confirmed senior club officials would soon be in a position to sit down with Newcastle United owner Ashley.
Many Light Blues followers are refusing to buy official merchandise due to widespread speculation about the agreements with the Sports Direct chain.
But Murray said: "The view of the board at the moment is that we can pursue our own funding solution without having to go back to Sports Direct.
"We have had no discussions with Sports Direct or Mike Ashley so far, but we are happy to engage with Sports Direct and I think we should engage with them.
Murray and his fellow directors have been examining the Glasgow club's books since taking power at an EGM earlier this month.
He revealed this week that the general meeting had cost £300,000 and the SPFL Championship club were paying for all five Newcastle United loan players.
And he also confirmed the club, who have agreed an interest-free £1.5 million loan with The Three Bears consortium, would not accept a second £5 million loan with Ashley.
The oldco director stressed to supporters in an interview with Rangers TV that "there is nothing we have found so far that we didn't expect".
And he confirmed senior club officials would soon be in a position to sit down with Newcastle United owner Ashley.
Many Light Blues followers are refusing to buy official merchandise due to widespread speculation about the agreements with the Sports Direct chain.
But Murray said: "The view of the board at the moment is that we can pursue our own funding solution without having to go back to Sports Direct.
"We have had no discussions with Sports Direct or Mike Ashley so far, but we are happy to engage with Sports Direct and I think we should engage with them.
posted on 28/3/15
Missed this bit:
They are a nine per cent shareholder with the club and have got commercial arrangements with the club and I think we have to have that conversation pretty soon.
"We will be in a position very shortly to sit down with Sports Direct and Mike Ashley and try and agree a way forward."
Under the terms of a previous £5 million loan, Ashley has security over every Rangers asset apart from Ibrox and also has the rights to appoint two directors.
Murray dismissed claims from former Gers chief executive Charles Green that he could return as the billionaire's representative.
And the interim chairman stressed that the Albion Car Park, Edmiston House and Murray Park were in no jeopardy.
He said: "Under the first £5 million loan he has got rights to do that (appoint two directors). We will have to address that as and when he decides to do that.