Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley is awaiting a civil judges decision on whether he has to pay the legal bills of the Scottis

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Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley is awaiting a civil judges decision on whether he has to pay the legal bills of the Scottish FA and Rangers chairman Dave King. The Sports Direct supremo abandoned a legal action on Thursday in which he wanted to challenge the SFAs decision to class Dave King as a fit and proper person for involvement with the Ibrox side.He decided to drop the action after his legal team received information about Kings finances which the SFA used in their May 2015 deliberations. However, judge Lord Bannatyne is considering legal submissions made by lawyers acting for the SFA and King during proceedings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Thursday. They argued that the Newcastle United owner is using the legal system to pursue a vendetta against King. Dave King swept to power at Ibrox in March 2015 Advocate Roddy Dunlop QC for the SFA and Kings counsel, Kenneth McGuire, argue that Ashleys alleged conduct and his decision to drop the proceedings should result in him meeting costs.Mr Dunlop told the court: It is my submission that the petitioner in this case is pursuing a personal vendetta against Mr King and that my clients, the respondents, are simply the collateral damage in pursuit of this vendetta.The case heard in court on Thursday was brought by MASH Holdings Limited, the company which is the ownership mechanism in which Mike Ashley holds his Rangers shares.Ashley believed the SFA should not have allowed King to participate in the day to day running of Rangers because of his tax convictions in South Africa. The businessman admitted to 41 breaches of the South African Income Tax Act and agreed to pay a £43.7m settlement in 2013 following a legal battle there. Rangers lost one-nil away to Livingston to extend their winless run in the Scottish Championship to three games. Ashley originally wanted a Court of Session judge to rule that the SFAs decision was irrational but on Thursday Ashleys lawyer, Craig Sandison QC, told the court that his client had decided to abandon the action.He told the court that the SFA had provided his client with information concerning Kings finances in the last week. The court heard that Scottish footballs governing body had originally refused to disclose the information to Ashley and that it had been its position since June last year.The court also heard that this information was used by the SFA to conclude that Mr King was a fit and proper person. Mr Sandison told the court that in the light of the information, Ashley no longer wished to pursue the judicial review.Mr Sandison also said that if Ashley had been supplied with the information earlier, he would have stopped proceedings at an earlier stage. Glasgow derby for Wembley? The organiser of the International Champions Cup wants to see Celtic v Rangers - at Wembley Stadium. He added: He continues to believe that it was an extraordinary decision but he now no longer wishes to pursue the judicial review. If the respondent had disclosed the information at an earlier stage then the petition would not have been raised.Mr Sandison argued that the court should allow Ashley not to pay the expenses incurred by the SFA and by King, saying his client had raised the judicial review because he wanted to act in what he thought was Rangers best interests.However, Mr Dunlop told the court that legal precedents meant that people in Ashleys position of abandoning cases in the Court of Session should pay costs. The advocate said he did not know until early on Wednesday afternoon that Ashley had decided not to proceed with the action.He added: We were told yesterday at mid-day that this was not proceeding. This will not do. MASH have conducted themselves irresponsibly and it should have to pay expenses. Mike Ashley abandoned a legal action in which he wanted to challenge the SFAs decision to pass Dave King as a fit and proper person MASH cannot demonstrate in law that the decision of the SFA is irrational. It seems that MASH are conducting a personal vendetta against Mr King.Mr McGuire also urged the court to order Ashley to pay the full costs of Kings and the SFAs representation. He said Ashley was attacking the personal character of King and that they did not have any evidence to prove that his client was not a fit and proper person.Mr McGuire added that the information disclosed to Ashley was privileged and that his client had agreed to its disclosure.He added: Mr Ashley is conducting a personal vendetta against Mr King. It is an attack on the personal character of Mr King. If successful it would have a tremendous effect on Mr Kings relationships within the world of football and the world of business. Its nothing more than mudslinging. Dave King swept to power at Ibrox in March 2015 In response, Mr Sandison said that his client was not acting maliciously against King and urged Lord Bannatyne to reject the submissions made by Mr Dunlop and Mr McGuire, adding: There is absolutely no evidence or details of a vendetta between the two.Lord Bannatyne will issue his decision on whether Mr Ashley should pay legal costs in a written judgement which will be issued in the near future, saying: I am taking this to avisandum. Also See: Kiernans Champions League aim McKay dismisses Gordon jibe Dundee duo among nominees Glasgow derby for Wembley? MONTREAL -- A stunning climb in the world rankings and taking a set off the best female tennis player on the planet was reward enough for Eugenie Bouchards hard work in 2013. Now the native of Westmount, Que., is shooting for silverware. "I want to win a title (in 2014), thats for sure," said Bouchard, who surged to No. 32 in the WTA rankings this year from 144th. "Ill be happy with any title but the bigger the tournament is the better it will be. And my ultimate objective is a Grand Slam." Besides her lofty rise in the WTA standings, Bouchard defeated Ana Ivanovic -- then ranked world No. 12 -- in the second round of Wimbledon, forced Serena Williams to three sets in Cincinnati and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year. These accomplishments have earned Bouchard, who turns 20 in February, the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of 2013. Bouchard received 45 per cent of ballots cast, finishing well ahead of snowboarder Dominique Maltais and speedskater Christine Nesbitt, who each had 11 per cent. "Its special," Bouchard said of the award, which is determined through balloting among sports editors and broadcasters across the country. "It just shows how much hard work Ive put in this year that Ive had good results. It makes me more proud of my year." Bouchard said her first full year on the tour allowed her to appreciate the differences from the junior circuit, where she starred in 2012 while winning the Wimbledon junior championship. "I feel like Ive had a lot of good experiences this year that will help me in the future," she said. "I got to play a lot of big matches on centre courts at Grand Slams like at the French Open and Wimbledon." Fellow tennis player Milos Raonic was voted The Canadian Press male athlete of the year on Thursday. Canadas team of the year will be revealed Saturday. A number of womens tennis players have won the Canadian Press honour over the years. Aleksandra Wozniak was the last to do so, taking the honour in 2009. Helen Kelesi and Carling Bassett are also former winners. Praise poured in for Bouchard from those who selected her for the Rosenfeld Award, originally awarded in 1933 and named foor the Olympic champion and all-round athlete who was voted Canadas top female athlete for the first half of the 20th century.dddddddddddd "Eugenie Bouchard is a name I think were going to be hearing a lot of in the future," said Montreal Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. "Shes only going to get better and seems to have the game -- and the strength -- to make it into the top 10. Her name could be at the top of this list for years to come. A real breakout year from her." Pierre Champoux, news director at Radio-Canada.ca, suggested there doesnt seem to be much that can stop her from continuing her dramatic rise in the rankings. "How far will she go?" Champoux said. "Eugenie Bouchard opened the eyes of all Canadians with her dazzling progress among the best tennis players in the world." The expectations are high, but Bouchard says shes not going to let that get to her. "I put enough pressure on myself, so Im just going to focus on that and not worry about what other people think because thats out of my control," she said. "I really just want to focus on my tennis and, if I play well, if I perform well, then the results will come." Moses Woldu, sports director at Newcap TV (CKSA, CITL) in Lloydminster, Alta., put it succinctly for why he selected Bouchard. "Moving 100 spots in the tennis world rankings speaks for itself." Maltais, of Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois, Que., enjoyed a stellar year of her own, winning the overall World Cup snowboard cross title and a world silver medal. That was enough for Bob Addison, sports anchor for Vancouver radio station CKNW. "Tough choice, but Maltais takes it as the overall World Cup champ," he said. Others who received votes included heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, paralympic swimmer Valerie GrandMaison, gymnast Rosie MacLennan, snowboarder Maelle Ricker, mixed martial artist Alexis Davis, freestyle skier Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, snowboarder Spencer OBrien and bobsledder Kaillie Humphries. Bouchard becomes the fourth tennis player to win the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award. Carling Bassett took it in 1983 and 1985, Helen Kelesi in 1989 and 1990 and Aleksandra Wozniak in 2009. ' ' '