Castore deal 'ripped up' after £29m news as Rangers mull over alternative partners - report
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Rangers' kit deal with Castore is the subject of much scrutiny as it prepares to run out come the end of the current season.
The Gers are also entering a new era of retail at Ibrox after finally settling a tumultuous period of court cases and retail wrangles by shaking hands with Elite and Hummel.
With the influence of Sports Direct and the threat of long-running court battles now officially over, Rangers' largely successful initial five-year deal with Castore is almost up.
But as Rangers fans eagerly await an update on the situation, Castore have now lost yet another official footballing partner just months after posting substantial losses.
Rangers success drives Castore expansion
Castore made no secret about leveraging the success of the Rangers deal in their negotiations with other football kit partners.
Whilst the Andy Murray-backed retailer has made expansions into a number of different sports, Rangers were the ambitious group's first foray into football.
Rangers signed the deal against the backdrop of those retail battles with Mike Ashley and Hummel/Elite and it was a deal which initially had great success.
With Castore handling the complications of the Covid pandemic in 2020 to deliver on the astonishing demand, Rangers have broken retail records alongside Castore in recent seasons.
But outside of Ibrox things have not gone to plan for Castore, whose reputation has taken a battering after losing two major Premier League contracts.
Now, another of their major European partnerships has been ripped up as Rangers enter discussions over the future of the club's retail operations.
Castore lose major Bundesliga partner
Firstly Newcastle United ripped up their deal with the retailer to sign with Adidas before Aston Villa cut ties with the brand due to issues with the material retaining the sweat of players.
Now, Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen look set to follow suit with Kicker claiming that the retailer's deal with last season's German champions has been 'ripped up'.
Despite their contract with Castore running to 2027, Bayer Leverkusen have now negotiated its early termination with the Bundesliga club to sign with New Balance instead.
The new deal is set to include a 'seven-figure' per annum increase on the Castore contract, with Bayer Leverkusen set to rake in between €6m (£5m) and €7m (£5.85m) per season from New Balance.
The situation comes after Castore posted remarkable losses of £29m for the previous financial year, with the UK retailer blaming issues with the 'supply chain' for the deficit.
Leading Rangers fan media outlet Heart & Hand have previously claimed that the Ibrox retail deal has been 'put out to tender' with no decision made on the contract.
Rangers are amongst Castore's most high profile partnerships, with the retailer boasting contracts across European football.
Burnley and Everton are the retailers most recent partnerships south of the border, whilst Sevilla, Club Brugge and Feyenoord are amongst Castore's most high profile contracts on the continent.
