SPORTS DIRECT attempted to block an Ibrox fans group raising cash for the Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund over an alleged trademark breach.

The Evening Times has obtained a copy of a letter, dated August 21, from London-based Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP to James Blair, the Company Secretary of Rangers International Football Club plc, which relates to the sale of a season ticket card holder by the Sons of Struth.

The SoS began selling the items to Gers fans after they were returned to the club by the widow of the late Colin Jackson, who helped set up the Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund in 2001 alongside John Greig, Sandy Jardine and Peter McCloy and passed away earlier this year following a battle with leukaemia.

The holders, which have the Rangers five star logo and ‘Rangers till I die’ on the front and the badge of the RFPBF and ‘contribution towards Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund’ on the back, were available for a minimum donation of £1 and raised a four-figure sum for the charity.

On January 27 this year, Sports Direct took control of Rangers’ registered trademarks when the former Ibrox board agreed a multi-million pound loan deal with the Mike Ashley-owned firm.

The letter states: “Naturally our client is concerned that such use may have an adverse effect on sales of genuine Rangers products and the validity of the relevant registered marks. Consequently, please ensure that your client takes immediate action to defend this infringement.”

In May, Sports Direct called an EGM in a bid to force the Rangers board to repay the £5million loan to Mr Ashley and gained a High Court injunction that prevents any Ibrox directors from revealing the details of the merchandise deal between the sportswear firm and Rangers Retail Limited.

Chairman Dave King last week insisted Rangers would not be ‘cowed’ by the threat of legal action and stated his intention to ensure ‘that Sports Direct is legally and financially held accountable for its failures’.

Rangers fans are continuing to boycott Sports Direct stores and official Gers merchandise in protest at Mr Ashley’s Ibrox influence and Craig Houston of the Sons of Struth told the Evening Times: “I was shocked and stunned when the club approached me to say that they had received the legal complaint about us raising money for the Benevolent Fund.

“It was perfectly clear that nobody was making profit from the season ticket holders. We were turning up at Ibrox with buckets, people were putting a donation in and they got a season ticket holder with the Benevolent Fund badge on it. It was very clear that every penny would go to the Benevolent Fund.”

A spokesman for Sports Direct said: “Sports Direct are bound by various confidentiality obligations and so cannot comment. It does not consent to the publication of any confidential material. All rights are reserved."