"There Is A General Decline in Sales Of Replica Kits in All Sports" - Rangers Start Looking For New Kit Supplier
Dec 1, 2017, by Chris
Rangers chief Dave King yesterday revealed that negotiations into a new kit supplier for Rangers will begin today. Current suppliers Puma had until yesterday to notify the club on whether or not they would like to continue their agreement beyond the end of this season, with King confirming there had been contact from the manufacturer.
Six months ago, Rangers announced that the contract with Sports Direct, which gave Sports Direct's Mike Ashley control of the club's retail arm, had been canceled and replaced with a new one year agreement. Glasgow Rangers' 16-17 home kit is used in the 2017-18 campaign due to these problems with Sports Direct.
Rangers Start Looking For New Kit Supplier
Now, the club will have to decide if they wish to remain with Puma or go with another supplier, although that deal is unconnected with the club's overall retail setup, with negotiations on that unable to proceed as yet.
The arrangements we had with Sports Direct meant we couldn't go to the market until today
King explained: "The arrangements we had with Sports Direct meant we couldn't go to the market until today and within a certain timeframe. What we are doing at the moment, is putting together the appropriate plans as to what the offering is we want to take to the market at that point in time.
"So just now it is pretty much preparation, whereas the situation with the kit is a little different. Puma are obliged to give us more information – today, in fact – as to whether they want to extend that, and they have already done that. "So, from today, we will be actively entering negotiations on a kit provider whether that be Puma or someone else."
There is a decline generally in the sale of replica kits, so it's not a market we can continue to rely on for our growth.
King also expanded on other revenue streams open to the club, saying: "We haven't taken full advantage as it hasn't been open to us, and they are still not currently open. But if you look at going forward, the Sports Direct deal was so narrow and so restrictive, that the revenue streams were very restrictive.
"What we are doing now is looking at other areas, and there are commercial opportunities that we haven't exploited which we are looking at just now, and we think can be very significant going forward. A lot of that is around social media and different products other than the replica kits. We are finding the trend globally, not just in football but in basketball, baseball etc. that there is a decline generally in the sale of replica kits, so it's not a market we can continue to rely on for our growth."
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Brusque 2026 Pink October Kit Released
Brazilian club Brusque FC and kit manufacturer Junpe have officially unveiled a special commemorative jersey for Outubro Rosa (Pink October). Designed to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention and encourage women's health checkups, the release continues the club's tradition of dedicated awareness kits for the month of October.
The shirt combines two tones of pink, featuring an eye-catching chevron graphic across the chest over an intricate sublimated fabric texture. Bold black detailing provides strong contrast on the thick ribbed V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, as well as on all sponsor prints and the Junpe manufacturer logo. The club's traditional yellow, green, and red crest sits in full color on the left breast, topped by three stars.
A bespoke circular seal appears on the lower front with the campaign motto "Jogue pela vida! Cuide de você - Um toque pode virar o jogo" (Play for life! Take care of yourself - One touch can turn the game around), drawing a direct parallel between the sport and the importance of self-examination. The limited-edition jersey is sold through the club's official retail space next to the Augusto Bauer stadium.
Stunning Kashima Antlers 26-27 35th Anniversary Kit Released
Kashima Antlers and Nike have officially released a special 35th anniversary kit to celebrate the founding of the iconic J1 League side on October 1, 1991. The release also pays homage to Brazilian football legend Zico, whose spirit and influence remain foundational to the identity and DNA of the Ibaraki-based club.
The Nike Kashima Antlers 26-27 35th anniversary shirt boasts an elegant two-tone dark navy half-and-half design inspired by the night scenery of Kashima Bay. Breaking away from the club's standard colors, the kit applies full gold detailing throughout, highlighted by the club's first-ever matte gold crest featuring a commemorative 1991/2026 engraving. All sponsor marks, the Nike Swoosh, and the sleeve badge are finished in matching metallic gold.
Navy shorts and socks with gold accents round off the sophisticated look. Fans can customize the kit with gold printing in either Nike's current 26-27 squad font or a recreated version of the club's original 1990s founding-era typography, with Zico's legendary number 10 among the selections. Kashima Antlers are scheduled to wear the special uniform on December 19, 2026, against Tokyo Verdy at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium).
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To be launched on October 6, 2026.
Ballard FC & Salmon Bay FC Release 2026 Community Kit
Seattle sister clubs Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC have officially released their special 2026 Community Top, created in collaboration with Lenovo and illustrator Sophia Yeshi as part of the "Your Club Your Canvas" campaign. Developed in partnership with Becky G to highlight grassroots football culture and the vital role of local supporters, the limited-edition shirt features a deep red base covered in an intricate all-over graphic inspired by field notes that celebrate neighborhood landmarks, club history, and key community figures. The jersey is finished with a retro-styled striped V-neck collar, matching sleeve cuffs, and a centralized lenticular crest, with all sales proceeds directly supporting the clubs.
