There are a few things in football that you wouldn’t want to be right now. Juande Ramos at Tottenham’s next board meeting, Rob Styles judging a penalty decision at the weekend, William Gallas defending Arsenal’s next corner, but top of the list must be having your name on the front of a football club’s shirt.
Football shirt sponsors are feeling the dramatic effects of the credit crunch right now. Traditionally, having a company brand on the front of a football shirt has been associated with prestige and success, but the recent trend seems to be saying the opposite.
Here’s a round-up of some of the major sponsorship concerns affecting football clubs in the UK.
Newcastle United
Newcastle were he first club to see their sponsor struggle. Northern Rock had to be taken over by the UK government in February. Northern Rock (UK tax payers) will continue to sponsor Newcastle until 2010 to the tune of £5 million per year.
West Ham United
The XL Leisure Group went into administration in September 2008. They were one year into a three year deal as West Ham’s shirt sponsor, paying £2.5 million per year.
Manchester United
Man Utd’s sponsor AIG (American International Group) were ranked the 18th largest company in the world, but that didn’t stop AIG going the same way as Northern Rock and needing the US Government to bail them out with a loan of $85 billion. Man Utd have two years left on the sponsorship deal worth £56.5 million pounds.
Bradford City
Bradford City’s sponsor the Bradford and Bingley have also been nationalised with some assets sold to Spanish giant Santander. The sponsor has paid for this years sponsorship, but the football club will need to wait and see what happens for their final year of the deal which runs until the 2009/10 season.
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic sponsors JJB Sports have been warned over its ability to survive. The sporting goods retailer has seen the share price plummet by 60%.JJB’s sponsorship of the Wigan stadium and shirts ends at the close of this season.
It’s not only the top football league clubs that have been affected though.
Ossett Town AFC haven’t had a Main Shirt Sponsors for nearly 3 years and this doesn’t only affect the top level of the club it gets pushed down the clubs structure of 17 Junior teams all the way down to the under 5’s.
If you would like to help our club with sponsorship or advertising please contact our Commercial manager on 07544201994 or email [email protected]