Ashley Suing the club

[Jammy89]

Newcastle United's former owner Mike Ashley has taken his old club to a competition regulator in a row over black and white shirts.

The Magpies' new deal means that Ashley won't be able to sell Toon jerseys in Sports Direct due to an exclusivity agreement between Adidas and his company's rivals JD Sports. Buckinghamshire tycoon Ashley has submitted a claim to the Competition Appeals Tribunal.

Sports Direct alleges in its claim that: “The Club has abused its dominant position in the market for the wholesale supply of Newcastle United replica kit in the UK [in breach of competition law] by refusing to supply Sports Direct with the Club’s replica kit for the 2024/25 season and granting JD Sports, another UK sports retailer, exclusive rights as a third-party retailer of the Club’s replica kit”.

The argument from Sports Direct is that fans will have to pay higher prices. Ashley's Sports Direct stores currently sell Castore shirts at knockdown prices but the Liverpool firm will no longer be looking after Newcastle from the end of the season.

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Can't see this going anywhere at all

[ex_pat_magpie]

Newcastle United's former owner Mike Ashley has taken his old club to a competition regulator in a row over black and white shirts.

The Magpies' new deal means that Ashley won't be able to sell Toon jerseys in Sports Direct due to an exclusivity agreement between Adidas and his company's rivals JD Sports. Buckinghamshire tycoon Ashley has submitted a claim to the Competition Appeals Tribunal.

Sports Direct alleges in its claim that: “The Club has abused its dominant position in the market for the wholesale supply of Newcastle United replica kit in the UK [in breach of competition law] by refusing to supply Sports Direct with the Club’s replica kit for the 2024/25 season and granting JD Sports, another UK sports retailer, exclusive rights as a third-party retailer of the Club’s replica kit”.

The argument from Sports Direct is that fans will have to pay higher prices. Ashley's Sports Direct stores currently sell Castore shirts at knockdown prices but the Liverpool firm will no longer be looking after Newcastle from the end of the season.

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Can't see this going anywhere at all

Fatso has a bloody nerve considering the dubious strokes he pulled in favour of Shyte Direct to the detriment of the club.

[toptoon]

I’m amazed he’s pursuing this unless there’s a relevant contract clause somewhere? NUFC owns the brand and can do what it likes with it.

[Zippity]

The absolute cheek of this cunt.

[Sclox]

Hard to believe but our owners are CL level, MA is championship at best.

[ex_pat_magpie]

The Fat, Dirty, Greedy Bassard is looking for £1.5million from the club.

He has some hopes. It would be good if he spent a load of dough taking it to the tribunal only for the club's deal to be proved watertight and he lost a load more. Wouldn't we all chuckle.

Quote

Newcastle United's former owner Mike Ashley is claiming he is missing out on profits of £1.5million due to an exclusivity agreement that will mean the club's new Adidas shirt can't be sold in his Sports Direct shops.

Fans will be marching to the new look Adidas club shops and JD Sports - who have an exclusive agreement to sell the shirts - this summer when an exciting new range of kits and leisurewear will be released at the start of a whole new era on Tyneside.

Ashley wants 50,900 units of Newcastle merchandise from his old club to sell from June and has taken the club to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The situation is enflamed from Ashley's point of view because Newcastle ended their agreement with Castore early to bring much-loved Adidas back to the table.

Ashley is still making money from Newcastle in the last few months of Castore's agreement with United with some knockdown Toon shirts available at his stores. But he argues because the agreement was terminated and there was "every expectation" that the deal he agreed with Castore in 2021 would continue, he will be hit by the fact JD Sports will be the retailer who can sell the eagerly anticipated new United Adidas range.

Co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi said last year that the Adidas deal was like "two old lovers getting back together", while Alan Shearer stated in the Prime Video documentary that it was the biggest deal in club history.

[Jammy89]

The absolute cheek of this cunt.

It's ****ing hilarious.

This type of exlusivity contract is absolutely common. I almost want this to get to court so he'll be laughed it.