theindependent--2019-01-22--10 best swimming caps

10 best swimming caps

What do you need to think about when buying a swimming cap? Firstly, consider about what you’ll be using it for. Is it to protect your hair from chlorine, while keeping it as dry as possible? Or are you looking for something super-tight and streamlined to help you swim faster in the pool? Or does the pool you take your kids to insist they wear a swim hat, so you just want something that’s comfy and good value.  There are different swimming cap styles to cater to all these needs; there's even thermal, neoprene hats to keep your head warm if you’re cold water swimming in the sea or lakes in winter. Most performance swim hats are made with silicone making them stretchy enough to work for all head sizes, though if you have long hair with lots of volume, you should look for a specifically-designed extra-large cap, so it won’t slip back or fall off when you push off from the wall.  It’s also worth thinking about how vigorously you plan to swim, as gentle breaststroke will require a less fitted hat than fast front crawl or butterfly, especially if you’re doing racing dives or forceful tumble turns. We’ve included a mix of brands and some children’s options too. The hats were tested in a leisure centre swimming pool.  We were impressed with this Silicone Moulded Cap from Speedo. It was stretchy enough to get on and off easily, and when on it held in place really well during fast swimming, including tumble turns and racing dives. It felt really comfortable to wear, didn’t snag our hair and held up in repeated sessions without remotely losing its original shape. The fabric felt thick and durable, as if the hat would last a long time. And we liked the bright colour, which would provide extra visibility during summer sea swimming. It's also available in a range of other colours.  The Super Flex Silicone Cap from Aussie swim brand Vorgee is especially designed for swimmers with longer hair, and it promises to keep your hair dry and protected from chlorine. Our tester with long hair did find it kept some of their hair dry on top, though the sides and back still got wet, perhaps that was due to faster front crawl swimming and maybe if you stuck to breaststroke, your hair would stay dry. The cap was comfy and felt like it was good value for money. It's also available in blue, black, pink and red.  Our six-year-old tester got very excited over this Batman swimming cap from Zoggs. It was a tight fit and not that easy to get on or off, especially compared to the softer fabric style that young kids are usually used to, but once it was on they were super happy with it. Especially the pointy bat ears, which they kept proudly touching. The cap held in place really well during swimming, both lessons and playtime, and was compatible with goggles. It felt like a hat that would motivate even the most reluctant young swimmers into the water. The range includes Wonder Women, Aquaman and Superman caps.  If you have dreadlocks, extensions, an Afro or just really long hair, wearing a regular swimming hat can be a pain – even if you do manage to stretch it to fit, it will probably rise up the first time you push off the wall. Soul Cap has been designed with extra fabric to avoid that happening. And we found it did a really good job, holding in place well even with diving, faster swimming and strong pushing off from the side.  As you might expect from a cap that namechecks the world’s greatest ever swimming Olympian, the Michael Phelps cap is designed for racing, keeping your head as streamlined and therefore speedy as possible in the pool. Consequently, it was tighter than the other caps on test and slighter harder to get on and off, though we didn’t find it a massive problem; it stayed in place perfectly while we swam and dived in. This is best suited to swimmers with shorter hair.  One of the worst things about cold water swimming, even in a wetsuit, is the brain freeze you get when you dive under the water. But this swim hat from triathlon brand, Orca, puts paid to that as it’s made from neoprene, the material used for wetsuits, to a thickness of 3mm. We found it kept our head really warm, and it was comfy to wear, though we did need to mess around with the chin strap to get the tightness right initially. Orca do a version without a chin strap though if you’re worried about that, though the strap would keep do a good job of keeping the cap in place if you were swimming in choppy seas. Available in sizes S/M and L/XL.  Younger kids don’t need to be fast or streamlined when swimming, they just need to be comfortable and happy in the water, and this Junior Fab Cap from Vorgee will help them be just that. It’s made from a soft fabric that is easy to stretch over their hair without any painful snagging. And they’ll be able to pull this cap off easily themselves. It will eventually lose its shape with repeated wear, but it should give you at least a year of regular wear first, if not more. It's also available in a range of other colours.  This is a great value hat from Nabaiji, Decathlon’s swimwear brand. It’s comfortable to wear and doesn’t stick to your hair, but it is a smallish fit, so it wouldn’t be a great choice for those with larger heads or lots of hair. It stayed in place relatively well and would be good for keeping hair out of your eyes, though due to its fabric nature your hair does get wet, so we wouldn’t recommend it for those who want to keep their hair as dry as possible. Fabric caps will lose their stretch over time, too. This is also available in pink, black and navy.  We liked this cap from Aqua Sphere, finding it stretchy and comfortable to swim in, even for longer sessions, when some hats can start to push a little on your head. It was easy to get on and off, didn’t snag our hair and it felt like a decent quality product for the price.  “That looks like something the Queen would wear” said one of our young testers when we put this on at the pool, and it does definitely have more of a vintage fashion style than the usual sporty, streamlined caps on sale. We thought this would be more suited to sedate breaststroke lengths than hammering up and down the pool, yet it did stay put surprisingly well for faster swimming, and only moved a little with more vigorous dives. It's available in different colourways.  Like many children at the moment, our young tester is mad for unicorns, and they greeted this hat from Nabaiji with a lot of glee. It wasn’t as tight as some silicone caps, but it was a lot harder to put on than a fabric cap would be, though our tester found it comfy to wear once it was on. It kept their hair drier than a fabric cap, but water did get in around the ears and hairline. It's also available in blue.  We rated the Speedo Plain Moulded Silicone Cap most highly for adults, as it was really stretchy and comfy to wear, and it felt durable. The Vorgee Super Flex Silicone Cap was a great cap too and good value for money, while the Michael Phelps Race Cap was the best for contest swimming. For kids, we would recommend the Zoggs superhero series and the Vorgee Junior Fab Cap.  IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.


eveningstandard--2019-06-04--BT sponsors England FA signs five-year deal for football teams and Wembley

BT sponsors England: FA signs five-year deal for football teams and Wembley

All England football teams and Wembley Stadium have been signed-up by the Football Association to a five-year deal with BT.  As the exclusive lead partner, BT's logo will appear on all training kit worn by the England senior men's and women's squads and all development, futsal and disability teams, starting this week.  Under the terms of the deal, EE will continue to be the main sponsor for the iconic Wembley.  FA chief commercial & football development officer Mark Bullingham said: "We look forward to working with BT and EE over the coming five years."  The deal is reportedly worth around £50million.


theindependent--2019-02-16--Barcelona Liverpool Juventus Ranking the 20 biggest kit sponsorship deals in football history

Barcelona, Liverpool, Juventus: Ranking the 20 biggest kit sponsorship deals in football history

A number of the biggest clubs in football are currently in the process of negotiating new kit sponsorship deals, sparking bidding wars among the world’s biggest sportswear manufacturers.  Premier League champions Manchester City are poised to switch from Nike to German giants Puma at the end of the current season, while in October Arsenal signed a new £300m deal with Adidas.  That deal smashes Arsenal’s previous agreement with Puma, although is still dwarfed by Manchester United’s kit deal with Adidas, which is set at £750m over ten years.  Meanwhile in November, news broke that Real Madrid are in talks to sign a world-record deal with Adidas, which will earn them £1bn over the next decade, eclipsing the agreement their bitter rivals Barcelona reached with Nike.  But where do these deals rank among the top twenty football kit sponsorship deals in history? Check the below gallery to find out.  Last season, The Independent spoke to Jake Cohen, a sports lawyer who has worked on a number of high-profile transactions in football, to find out exactly how important kit sponsorship deals are to football teams across the world.  “Kit deals are not traditional sponsorship deals – they are licensing deals, which enable the kit manufacturers to use the club’s brand to sell branded apparel,” he explained. “Clubs will traditionally receive an annual fee – for example, Manchester United receives £75 million per year from Adidas, Chelsea receives an initial £60 million per year from Nike, and Arsenal receives £30 million per year from Puma – and then 10-15% of the revenue the kit manufacturer generates from shirt sales.  “The kit deal is often a football club’s most lucrative sponsorship, and for good reason. The manufacturers aren’t paying the clubs to have a tiny logo emblazoned on the front of the club’s shirt – rather, they’re making an investment that will yield an excellent return. As an example, Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer projected that Adidas would earn £1.5 billion from its ten-year, £750 million deal with Manchester United.  “Why don’t football clubs simply manufacture their own shirts and keep 100% of the profits? The simple answer is because they’re football clubs, not kit manufacturers. They don’t have the global distribution networks necessary to manufacture, ship, and sell hundreds of thousands, or in some cases, millions of shirts each year. Many clubs even outsource the logistics of their online shops, which are miniscule operations compared to what is required to manufacture, distribute and market kits on a global scale.  “Football clubs don’t have access to these resources. Even the largest football clubs in the world are comparatively tiny businesses when it comes to the likes of Adidas and Nike. To put it in perspective, Nike has earned substantially more in three months (nearly £7 billion for March, April, and May 2017) than Chelsea have earned in its 112-year history.”  Keep up to date with all the latest news with expert comment and analysis from our award-winning writers


theindependent--2019-03-21--Chelsea manager Emma Hayes hails aposwatershed momentapos for womenaposs football after Super

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes hails 'watershed moment' for women's football after Super League sponsorship

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has hailed Barclays’ multi-million pound sponsorship deal as a watershed moment for the game.  The banking giants were on Wednesday unveiled as the new title sponsors of the Women’s Super League in a deal understood to be worth more than £10 million.  And Hayes, whose side host Paris St Germain in the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Thursday, believes Barclays’ investment is another major stride in the continued rise of the WSL.  “The women’s game is at a tipping point,” said Hayes. “I have been saying for some time that this year would be the watershed moment, and today’s announcement demonstrates that we have got the pulling power to bring the very best to the league.  “Tell me a league in the women’s game that can attract a sponsor like Barclays with their level of investment? It is absolutely brilliant news, and a significant step in the right direction.”  Chelsea will face PSG at Kingsmeadow bidding to become the first English club to reach the Champions League final in more than a decade.  England international Karen Carney won the tournament with Arsenal in 2007, while also reaching the last four with Birmingham five years ago.  Reflecting on that game in 2014, Carney, 31, said: “I don’t recall having a press conference like this one before that match.  “I look back and the level of interest was disappointing. We were in a semi-final of the Champions League, the only English side left in it, and nobody knew about it. That hurt and it still does now.  “It motivated the likes of myself and Emma to push the game on so we do have days like today where there is interest.  “The game is getting so big, so fast, and we want to create a legacy for the next set of Chelsea players so they have a room double the size of this one with even more people asking questions.”  Chelsea reached the last four of the Champions League last season before coming unstuck against Wolfsburg.  The Blues are set to face the German side in the next stage if they see off PSG.  Hayes added: “We are much better prepared than we were 12 months ago because of the accumulative experience that the players have. You would be hard-pressed to find a better squad in Europe than the one here.  “This team has got accustomed to playing in big games and this is a match that we have not just prepared for this week, but all season.  “We don’t fear PSG. We respect them, but we know with the personnel we have that we will hurt many teams in Europe.”  Keep up to date with all the latest news with expert comment and analysis from our award-winning writers


theindependent--2019-04-15--Barcelona Liverpool Arsenal Ranking the 20 biggest kit sponsorship deals in football history

Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal: Ranking the 20 biggest kit sponsorship deals in football history

A number of the biggest clubs in football are currently in the process of negotiating new kit sponsorship deals, sparking bidding wars among the world’s biggest sportswear manufacturers.  Premier League champions Manchester City are poised to switch from Nike to German giants Puma at the end of the current season, while in October Arsenal signed a new £300m deal with Adidas.  That deal smashes Arsenal’s previous agreement with Puma, although is still dwarfed by Manchester United’s kit deal with Adidas, which is set at £750m over ten years.  Meanwhile in November, news broke that Real Madrid are in talks to sign a world-record deal with Adidas, which will earn them £1bn over the next decade, eclipsing the agreement their bitter rivals Barcelona reached with Nike.  But where do these deals rank among the top twenty football kit sponsorship deals in history? Check the below gallery to find out.  Last season, The Independent spoke to Jake Cohen, a sports lawyer who has worked on a number of high-profile transactions in football, to find out exactly how important kit sponsorship deals are to football teams across the world.  “Kit deals are not traditional sponsorship deals – they are licensing deals, which enable the kit manufacturers to use the club’s brand to sell branded apparel,” he explained. “Clubs will traditionally receive an annual fee – for example, Manchester United receives £75 million per year from Adidas, Chelsea receives an initial £60 million per year from Nike, and Arsenal receives £30 million per year from Puma – and then 10-15% of the revenue the kit manufacturer generates from shirt sales.  “The kit deal is often a football club’s most lucrative sponsorship, and for good reason. The manufacturers aren’t paying the clubs to have a tiny logo emblazoned on the front of the club’s shirt – rather, they’re making an investment that will yield an excellent return. As an example, Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer projected that Adidas would earn £1.5 billion from its ten-year, £750 million deal with Manchester United.  “Why don’t football clubs simply manufacture their own shirts and keep 100% of the profits? The simple answer is because they’re football clubs, not kit manufacturers. They don’t have the global distribution networks necessary to manufacture, ship, and sell hundreds of thousands, or in some cases, millions of shirts each year. Many clubs even outsource the logistics of their online shops, which are miniscule operations compared to what is required to manufacture, distribute and market kits on a global scale.  “Football clubs don’t have access to these resources. Even the largest football clubs in the world are comparatively tiny businesses when it comes to the likes of Adidas and Nike. To put it in perspective, Nike has earned substantially more in three months (nearly £7 billion for March, April, and May 2017) than Chelsea have earned in its 112-year history.”


theonion--2019-11-13--Fan Wishes Team Was Sponsored By A Cooler Corporation

INDIANAPOLIS—Lamenting that the company did not even have anything to do with sports or his city, Pacers fan Kevin Schulder admitted Wednesday that he wished his team was sponsored by a cooler corporation. “It’d be sick if they had Monster or Nike as a sponsor, but it’s fucking Bankers Life Fieldhouse—I’ve never even heard of Bankers Life before I came to a game,” said Schulder, expressing frustration that their division-rival Milwaukee Bucks fans got a way more badass sponsor in Harley Davidson. “I’d even settle for something like Geico, which at least has funny commercials. I’ve never seen a Bankers Life ad in my life. I don’t even what they are. A bank? Insurance? Maybe if we got a cool company like Volvo or Del Monte people would finally take us seriously as a contender.” At press time, Schulder was telling friends the team sponsorship should be taken over by a true Indianapolis company like Angie’s List.


thetelegraph--2019-02-21--The Cycling Podcast Astanas start Tour Colombia 21 and Team Skys sponsorship search

The Cycling Podcast: Astana's start, Tour Colombia 2.1 and Team Sky's sponsorship search

There’s a lot of recent racing to cover in the latest episode of The Cycling Podcast, presented by Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe with Lionel Birnie in his sick bed.  They discuss the astonishing run by Astana, who have dominated the early season, the Tour Colombia 2.1, which showcased the host country’s talent and its passion for the sport, and Team Sky’s hunt for a replacement sponsor.  Will the British team continue with a Colombian backer? Reports last week suggested so — but they were perhaps premature.


thetelegraph--2019-06-28--Lucy Bronze and England team-mates to profit from bumper World Cup viewing figures with big sponsors

Lucy Bronze and England team-mates to profit from bumper World Cup viewing figures with big sponsorship deals

Lucy Bronze is being lined up for a potential £200,000 sponsorship contract from a leading clothing brand after being hailed as the "best in the world" by England manager Phil Neville.  The 27-year-old, whose brilliant strike sealed the nation's semi-final place in a 3-0 victory against Norway on Thursday, and at least two teammates are on a shortlist to receive offers within weeks, according to a well-placed source representing two high street names.  Bumper BBC viewing figures for the tournament in France are said to have turbo-charged the financial prospects of the squad. One well-known brand, which Telegraph Sport has agreed not to name, is in advanced talks internally about making a formal offer after being "impressed by the team's brilliant personalities as well as the quality of their football", the source said.  A huge frustration for the earning power of the women's game in recent years has been that rights for major tournaments have been sold in bundles with the men's game. Earlier this month, the Fifa president Gianni Infantino admitted governing bodies now needed to do more to commercialise the sports independently.  The gulf in player salary earning power between the women's and men's games remains vast. Before the tournament, the best-paid player was Lyon's Ada Hegerberg, on around £343,000 per annum. Bronze, who plays for the same club, is believed to earn somewhere in excess of £200,000, including her central contract with England worth £25,000 a year.


birminghammail--2019-10-14--'A landmark moment' Aston Villa announce major sponsorship deal

Aston Villa Women have secured a landmark sponsorship deal with Guard Industry, a company specialising in cleaning.  It is the women's team's first deal of any kind, with their shirts normally adorning whoever is sponsoring the mens' kit - bar last season when they didn't have a sponsor.  Their success off the pitch mirrors a strong start to the season on it for the Villans , who sit top of the FA Women's Championship with five wins from five games.  They have hit 18 goals across their League matches, Saturday's 4-0 success at Charlton Athletic their latest victory in which star striker Melissa Johnson a hat-trick and in the process netted her tenth goal of the season.  It was the perfect match to sport their new sponsor, with Guard Industry taking pride of place on the famous claret and blue for the first time.  This is your round up of all things Villa; the one-stop shop that will keep you updated on the latest goings on at the club and beyond. Transfers, injuries, match-days and managers, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be bringing the very latest on the Villains throughout the week and around the clock. Make sure you keep yourself updated with our handy daily catch up... • None 'Mr Irreplaceable' Our verdict on the Aston Villa player outperforming Jack Grealish - READ • None Hit or miss? Every Aston Villa summer signing rated from Wesley to Marvelous Nakamba - READ • None The ticket news Aston Villa fans have been waiting for as Wolves given 5,326 allocation - READ For all your latest AVFC news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here You can follow our Villa reporter Ashley Preece on Twitter, and his email address is Ashley.Preece@reachplc.com  Gemma Davies' side, who changed their name from Aston Villa Ladies in July, are gunning for promotion to the Super League - the top tier of the game.  “This is a landmark moment in the history of Aston Villa Women," Davies said.  "We’ve made huge strides on and off the pitch under the club’s ownership over the past 12 months and having our own front-of-shirt sponsor is testament to that progress.  "I’m proud to be a part of this team each and every day and I’m delighted that Guard Industry have embraced the journey that we’re on.”  “Guard Industry share the vision and ambition we have to make our Womens’ team one of the best in the country, and I’m thrilled to welcome them as our first Principal Partner.  "We will work closely with Guard Industry to create greater links with our local community and improve the match-day fan experience.”  Villa's surge to the top of the League has coincided with the FA's launch of their Player service, which streams one select match from the Championship every weekend.  Every Super League match is broadcast live leading to more exposure of the game.  Villa's chief commercial officer, Nicola Ibbetson, reckons the deal will help Villa's womens side become one of the best around.  “Guard Industry share the vision and ambition we have to make our Womens’ team one of the best in the country, and I’m thrilled to welcome them as our first principal partner," she said.  "We will work closely with Guard Industry to create greater links with our local community and improve the match-day fan experience.”


cnn--2019-10-10--Cory Booker to propose national expansion of California law allowing college athletes to take sponso

Cory Booker to propose national expansion of California law allowing college athletes to take sponsorships

(CNN) Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker will unveil a plan Thursday aimed at tackling the "exploitation" of college and professional athletes, including a proposal for national adoption of a California law allowing college athletes to profit from sponsorships and other opportunities related to their personal brand.  Booker's plan also calls for an "Athletics Fair Pay Act" to ensure equal pay for professional women athletes and stronger federal requirements for colleges receiving Title IX funding to support women's and men's sports equally.  "The systemic problems in sports are issues of economic justice and fairness," Booker said in a statement. "For too long, we have allowed exploitative practices in professional and college sports to fester -- somehow treating sports as different than our broader economy.  "But sports at these levels is a multi-billion dollar business," Booker continued. "Just as we shouldn't accept collusion, wage theft, and a massive gender pay gap in any other industry, we shouldn't accept them in sports."  The wide-reaching proposal would target issues as seemingly disparate as pay for minor league baseball players and labor policies impacting NFL cheerleaders and NBA dancers. Booker's plan would establish a federal Commission on Integrity in Sports to continually conduct oversight of sports at all levels. And his proposal would require that colleges foot the bill for all medical expenses related to injuries incurred by student athletes, up to 10 years after they are no longer eligible to play.  But the common theme, Booker notes, is ensuring "that all athletes have the opportunity to pursue the American dream through their hard work, and fans can share in the joy of fair competition."  Booker stands apart as the only 2020 presidential candidate who played college sports, having played college football for Stanford University. On the campaign trail, Booker often jokes that he attended Stanford thanks to his 4.0 and 1600: 4.0 average yards per carry, and 1,600 receiving yards, that is.  While Booker might have the most personal connection to sports issues among the 2020 field, he is not the only one using his platform to speak out. Sen. Bernie Sanders and businessman Andrew Yang, for example, have both endorsed college athletes being paid -- an idea that goes beyond what Booker proposes in his new plan.  However, Booker earns the distinction of being the first 2020 presidential candidate to roll out a comprehensive policy plan around college and professional sports, bringing to the fore a set of issues that have only recently started to draw national attention.  "Certainly Congress has been reluctant to challenge the status quo in athletics over the years," said Charles Clotfelter, a public policy professor at Duke University, and author of the book, "Big-Time Sports in American Universities."  Booker has been one voice who's long calling for a shakeup. In a 2014 Senate hearing, the New Jersey Democrat grilled NCAA President Mark Emmert over issues ranging from "inadequate" health coverage for athletes to scholarships that don't ensure they can graduate with a bachelor's degree.  "This was a challenge when I was an athlete some 20 years ago," Booker said during that hearing, "and athletes after athletes are going through and facing what I consider the exploitation of athletes."  But outside pressure has recently begun building for reform, in both college and professional sports.  One of the problems Booker's plan highlights -- equal pay for female athletes -- came into the spotlight earlier this year when the members of the World Cup champion US women's soccer team objected to their pay gap versus the men's national team. Those women are now suing the US Soccer Federation over gender pay discrimination.  Meanwhile, the debate over whether college athletes should be able to profit from sponsorships and other money-making opportunities ratcheted up when California approved a law to allow the practice . The law is not set to take effect until 2023, but it has been strongly opposed by the NCAA, which oversees college sports — even as LeBron James and other athletes and public figures applauded the change.  The NCAA is feeling the heat "from all angles," said Gabe Feldman, director of the sports law program at Tulane University — including in other state legislatures, Congress, the courts and now on the 2020 campaign trail. Altogether, "there is now unprecedented pressure on the NCAA to reform."  "The pressure from Sen. Booker and other senators and members of Congress is a positive step," Feldman added. "The hope is that all of these forces of pressure will move the NCAA to make meaningful change."  On Capitol Hill, Republican Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina has also been applying pressure, introducing a bill earlier this year with Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond that would allow college athletes across the country -- not just in certain states -- to earn money from sponsorships and the use of their likeness, similar to Booker's proposal.  "You can't successfully resolve this on a state-by-state basis," said Walker, even as he offered "kudos" to California for its law. "This has to be resolved from a federal standpoint."  The idea has attracted bipartisan support, Walker said, because "it's a simple civil rights issue," disproportionately affecting students who hail from lower-income communities.  "Sports issues don't necessarily fall neatly across traditional political lines," Feldman echoed. "Sports is one of the only truly unifying things in this country, and this exemplifies that."


eveningstandard--2019-10-04--The Hundred New cricket tournament criticised by health campaigners over snack food sponsorship

The Hundred: New cricket tournament criticised by health campaigners over snack food sponsorship

New cricket tournament The Hundred has been criticised by anti-obesity campaigners for having KP Snacks as a sponsor.  Each team will wear shirts featuring a different KP Snacks brand including Skips, Hula Hoops, Butterkist, Pom-Bear and McCoy's.  Health campaigners have pointed out that it would take a full cricket match to burn off the calories from one packet of crisps.  KP Snacks said it was "helping to grow cricket and encourage families to get active", while tournament organisers said the partnership "will enable us to introduce the tournament to more families".  Caroline Cerny, alliance lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, said: "Junk food brands' sponsorship of popular sporting events is just another way they make sure their unhealthy products take centre stage in children's minds.  "We know that the relentless exposure to junk food marketing that children today are exposed to influences their food choices and how much they eat.  "Meanwhile, junk food brands benefit from the unhelpful association between their fatty, sugary products and healthy activity, but ultimately it's children's health that will pay the price."  Barbara Crowther, co-ordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, added: "Quite frankly we're stumped as to how the England and Wales Cricket Board could choose a high-fat, high-salt snacking brand as an appropriate partner for The Hundred.  "Instead of promoting a healthy lifestyle, players will now effectively look like vending machines for junk food.  "Even (English cricketer) Ben Stokes would be hard pushed in one game of The Hundred to clock up the 400 runs - or five miles - required to run off just 100g of McCoy's cheese and onion crisps.  "English cricket should be using its power in support of efforts to halve child obesity by 2030, not becoming complicit with the marketing spin of the junk food industry."  Tam Fry, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, said Amsterdam had banned sports sponsorship by junk food firms.  "In the UK, we should follow this example," he said. "The England and Wales Cricket Board could have found any number of rich philanthropic organisations to fund its laudable objectives.  "Sadly, it didn't, with the result that our children will shortly see their heroes turned into advertising hoardings. It's quite irresponsible and unbelievably sad."  Kevin McNair, marketing director of KP Snacks, said at the launch of the partnership: "We're excited to be a part of revealing the designs of the official kits in the next stage of our long-term partnership with The Hundred, which aims to encourage families across the UK to be more active through cricket."  Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred contest, added: "The Hundred's partnership with KP Snacks will enable us to introduce cricket to more families.  "Our collaborative goal is to demonstrate the many benefits that playing cricket has and encourage balanced, healthy and active lifestyles."


eveningstandard--2019-11-15--British athletes including Adam Gemili and Mo Farah threaten BOA with legal action over sponsorship

British athletes including Adam Gemili and Mo Farah threaten BOA with legal action over sponsorship rules

A group of leading British athletes including Sir Mo Farah, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Laura Muir are listed as claimants on a legal letter sent to the British Olympic Association (BOA) criticising restrictions around their sponsorship rights.  The International Olympic Committee's Rule 40 sets out what athletes can and cannot do with regard to commercial ventures around Games time, with the intention of protecting the exclusivity of Olympic partners.  The IOC has softened its stance and the BOA reviewed its guidelines in October, but these limit athletes to one 'thank you' social post per sponsor during the 'Games period' - defined as July 14 to August 11, 2020 - provided it does not contain anything Olympics-related - Team GB kit, medals and so on.  The legal letter described the changes in the new guidance amounted to "no more than window dressing" and says they "do not add to the rights of athletes in any meaningful way". It goes on to say that Rule 40 places unlawful restrictions on the freedom of athletes to provide commercial services.  British sprinter Adam Gemili, who is also listed as a claimant and sits on the BOA's athletes' commission, described the restrictions imposed by Rule 40 as "ridiculous", "really unfair" and "unjust".  "Ninety nine per cent of athletes are working a full-time job and don't have the voice or the platform to speak out against the BOA or against Rule 40 because they're scared about what might happen against it," Gemili told BBC Sport.  "That's why I've felt it necessary to put my face on this and say yeah, things need to change and we're willing to take legal action to ensure these athletes are given the opportunities to get their own sponsorships because they don't earn any money apart from medalling at the Olympic Games.  "This is not about earning money, we're not out here for athletes to get paid for earning medals.  "We just want opportunities for athletes to be able to get their own sponsors leading up to an Olympics where they might not get this opportunity again."  A BOA spokesperson said: "The British Olympic Association (BOA) is an entirely independently funded organisation, which is not in receipt of public funding.  "The BOA's main purpose is to take athletes to the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic events across the world and has to raise its own funding to achieve this. As such, the BOA's funding model is different to many other National Olympic Committees, who receive direct government funding.  "Rule 40 is an IOC rule which we apply in our territory and is the protection that allows us to fund such activities for all athletes, regardless of their sport, status or personal sponsors.  "We acknowledge the statement made by a number of athletes today and will continue our ongoing dialogue with our Athletes' Commission and the wider athlete community in relation to this important matter.  "In the meantime we will continue to work hard to raise the vital funds needed to enable us to fulfil our ambitions for the team going to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."


fortune--2019-06-26--Major League Soccer Will Allow Gambling Liquor Sponsors for Jerseys and Stadium Rights

Major League Soccer Will Allow Gambling, Liquor Sponsors for Jerseys and Stadium Rights

Major League Soccer unveiled sweeping changes to its commercial sponsorship guidelines Wednesday that allow its 24 clubs to secure jersey and stadium naming rights sponsorships with sports betting and liquor companies.  The changes, which take effect immediately, put North America’s top professional soccer league far afield of its larger counterparts at the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League when it comes to embracing highly visible partnerships with the gambling industry.  While jersey sponsorships are historically far more common in soccer than other sports, the NBA debuted sponsorship patches on the front of its teams’ uniforms in 2017, and there has been speculation that the NFL, MLB and NHL could follow suit in the coming years.  The new rules also represent a loosening attitude toward liquor sponsors, who were until now prohibited from doing business with MLS clubs in a manner that beer and wine sponsors were not. Like gambling operators, spirits brands can now adorn MLS clubs’ jerseys and also become stadium naming-rights sponsors.  “We want to be viewed as a progressive league, and provide our clubs with an appropriate level of flexibility,” Carter Ladd, the league’s senior vice president of business development, told Fortune. “We don’t want to be restrictive; we want to enable them in a positive way, and that’s why we’re taking this action… We strongly believe this is going to help drive new revenues.”  The revised guidelines do come with restrictions, however. MLS remains sensitive about betting and liquor sponsors marketing to children and young people, and is taking steps to ensure all advertising by such sponsors is directed toward an “age-appropriate audience,” it said. The league will prohibit youth-sized replica jerseys from bearing such sponsors, and will bar them from appearing on the uniforms worn by clubs’ academy and youth players.  MLS will also restrict players under the age of 21 from appearing in any alcohol-related advertising or digital content, and no players are allowed to appear in sports betting-related marketing.  Still, Ladd said the league feels it is “uniquely positioned in the North American sports landscape” to benefit from changing attitudes—particularly toward sports gambling, which he noted has long “been embraced as part of the fabric of the game” in other countries.  In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision last year to overturn the federal ban on sports betting, 15 states and the District of Columbia have now authorized the practice in some form, according to the American Gaming Association—and like other leagues, MLS is intent on capitalizing on the fledgling legal sports betting market as both a revenue generator and a fan engagement tool.  In March, the league announced a multi-year deal with MGM Resorts that made MGM its first “official gaming partner,” and the new regulations make it easier for its teams to strike similar deals of their own.  While MLS clubs will be subject to their own states’ laws governing sports gambling, the league’s new rules will allow sports betting sponsors to advertise in MLS stadiums and strike digital advertising agreements with clubs; use clubs’ marks and logos in their advertising; deploy “call-to-action” advertising encouraging legal-age fans to bet on MLS games; and buy advertising spots during MLS game broadcasts. Clubs are also now permitted to create “ancillary programming around sports betting,” such as shows that discuss betting odds, and include league footage in those programs.  Perhaps most strikingly, the league’s clubs are now allowed to establish in-stadium sports betting facilities, in connection with licensed gambling operators, in jurisdictions that permit such establishments. In Washington, D.C.—where MLS club D.C. United recently opened its brand new Audi Field—Ted Leonsis, who owns the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals, plans to open such a facility within Capital One Arena, the downtown venue shared by both of his teams.  “Right now, we want to take advantage of the widespread legalization of sports betting in the U.S.,” Ladd said, adding that the league will “pursue best practices to protect the integrity of the game.”  On MLS’s more accommodating stance toward spirits, Ladd pointed to data indicating that Americans’ tastes are drifting more toward liquor, which has steadily been taking market share from beer and wine.  “Part of what drove our thinking is the research we did on where the [alcohol] industry is going,” he said. “As social mores change, there’s less of a line between beer and wine, and spirits. Ladd added that he expects the league’s new guidelines to “double, if not triple our revenues” from spirits sponsors, which he currently placed in the “seven-figure range.”  With the revised sponsorship rules taking effect immediately, MLS expects clubs to start announcing new sports betting and liquor sponsorships before the end of this year.  —Slack went public without an IPO. Here’s how a direct offering works  —5 things to know about Facebook’s new cryptocurrency, Libra  —This pot company stock is now more popular than Apple among millennials  —When the next recession hits, four good things could happen  Don’t miss the daily Term Sheet, Fortune‘s newsletter on deals and dealmakers.


pinknewsuk--2019-05-08--Major sponsor quits rugby player Israel Folau over anti-LGBT posts

Signup to receive a daily roundup of the top LGBT+ news stories from around the world  A major sponsor has ended its ties with Australian rugby player Israel Folau a day after he was found guilty of breach of contract for posting anti-LGBT social media posts.  Sportswear brand Asics, a leading sponsor of the Australian national rugby team the Wallabies, cited differences in their views as a reason for the decision.  “We champion inclusivity and diversity,” the statement read, quoted in BBC. “While Israel Folau is entitled to his personal views, some of those expressed in recent social media posts are not aligned with those of Asics.”  It added: “As such, our partnership with Israel has become untenable and he will no longer represent Asics as a brand ambassador.”  Asics is now the second sponsor to abandon Folau due to his anti-LGBT posts—Land Rover withdrew a luxury car issued to the player in April 2018, after he prompted outrage by saying gay people were going to hell “unless they repent of their sins.”  The athlete, who plays for both the Wallabies and the New South Wales Waratahs, was judged to have committed a “high-level breach” of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday (May 7).  Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby both declared they’d fire the 30-year-old player on April 11, the day after he published the posts, for breaching a code of conduct forbidding players from engaging in discriminatory practices.  The rugby star, who is Christian, posted messages on Instagram and Twitter telling “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” that “hell awaits” unless they “repent.”  In his tweet, he referred specifically to Tasmania passing sweeping reforms to permit people 16 or older to change their registered gender, removing requirements for transgender people to undergo surgery in order to have their legal gender recognised.  Folau’s contract was terminated on April 15 and he was given 48 hours to accept his firing or face a code of conduct hearing.  The debate over Folau’s behaviour has engulfed Australia, entering the political debate ahead of the country’s federal election, scheduled for May 18.  During the final leaders’ debate on Wednesday (May 8), Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed support for both freedom of speech and employers’ rights to enforce punishment for contract breaches, while Labor leader Bill Shorten expressed sympathy for Folau.  “On one hand, I think Israel Folau is entitled to his views, and he shouldn’t suffer an employment penalty for it. So I’m uneasy about that part of it,” Shorten said, quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald.  He added: “People putting out on social media that if you’re gay you’re going to go to hell, you know, I get that’s what he genuinely believes. But when you’re a public figure, that has negative impact, a hurtful impact on other people.”  New Zealand too has been closely following the case, as Folau is married to Kiwi netball player Maria Folau.  “Obviously on a personal I clearly don’t agree with what he said. I am very mindful of the fact that for many, he is a role model. He is a person in a position of influence and I think with that comes responsibility,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said last month when asked to comment about the rugby player’s comments.


skynewsus--2019-05-14--Nike cut sponsorship pay for pregnant athletes

Nike says it has reviewed its performance pay after several female athletes revealed they suffered reductions through pregnancy and early maternity.  US runners Alysia Montano, Phoebe Wright and Kara Goucher told the New York Times that Nike failed to take pregnancy and maternity into account as part of their sponsorship deals.  Montano, once in the top three female runners in the world, hit the headlines when she ran at eight months' pregnant with her first child.  In a video recorded for New York Times, she revealed she faced changes to her pay from Nike if she did not return quickly after giving birth.  She also claimed she was forced to train with a brace around her stomach to support her broken abdominal muscles.  Meanwhile, Goucher told the paper that the situation reached its worst point when her son got dangerously ill.  She said she had to choose between staying with him and training for a half marathon which she had been forced to sign up for in order to keep her sponsorship.  In a statement, Nike said it was "common practice in our industry" that "agreements do include performance-based payment reductions".  "Historically, a few female athletes had performance-based reductions applied," the sports company added.  "We recognised that there was an inconsistency in our approach across different sports and in 2018 we standardised our approach across all sports so that no female athlete is penalised financially for pregnancy."  Montano, 33, turned Nike's Dream Crazier tagline against them, claiming maternity leave was "a step too crazy" for the firm.  A 2019 Nike contract for track and field athletes, seen by the New York Times, stated the sports company had the right to reduce pay "for any reason" if performance related goals were not met.  It did not include any exceptions for childbirth, maternity or pregnancy.


theguardianuk--2019-05-28--Jessica Ennis-Hill calls for end to sponsors pressure over pregnancy

Jessica Ennis-Hill calls for end to sponsors’ pressure over pregnancy

Jessica Ennis-Hill has warned that women feel under pressure not to have children during their sporting careers because they fear they could lose their sponsors and says all brands should promise in writing not to penalise athletes if they get pregnant.  The London 2012 heptathlon champion’s intervention comes after what she said were “shocking” revelations about how Nike had treated some of its athletes after they had children. Last week Allyson Felix, the most decorated female runner in Olympic history, said the company had wanted to pay her 70% less after she gave birth last year, while another former Nike athlete Jo Pavey revealed she had felt “punished” for having her first child in 2009.  Ennis-Hill, who returned to the track to win the 2015 world championship a year after the birth of her first child, Reggie, said she was fully supported by Adidas during her pregnancy but admitted she was lucky compared with other athletes.  “I think Allyson is doing an amazing thing,” said Ennis-Hill, speaking as an ambassador for Vitality Health and Life Insurance. “Such policies are shocking because they put so much pressure on women and first-time mums. You have your baby, you are in this whole new world emotionally and physically, and then you have the pressure of ‘right, I have to rush myself back because otherwise financially I am going to be struggling and where am I going to go?’”  “I think there is pressure on female athletes who feel like ‘I have to do my career and I can’t stop in the thick of my career and go away and have a child, and perhaps that is the end of it’.”  She added: “I do think there needs to be more support. I was very lucky. I’ve been with Adidas throughout my whole career and they supported me massively. That was a massive part of why I didn’t feel the pressure to rush back. Because if you rush back then you’re not going to find your way back to elite sport.”  The 33-year-old had initially been concerned about how her sponsors would react when she told them she had become pregnant a year after she had become the face of the 2012 Olympics. “I was worried people would say ‘that’s you done, see you later’ and tear my contracts up,” she said. “It is tough because I wanted to continue with my career but you have to have the right people who believe in you and will support you financially and otherwise.”  “It was probably the worst time having to keep that secret in the first few weeks when I found out and then having to tell my coach, my team and all my sponsors. You feel like you’re letting everyone down. It’s a really tough time.”  “I was very lucky and I spoke to everyone and they all very much believed in me and supported me through the whole journey. That is why I was able to come back and be world champion and gain another medal at the Olympics.’  Since Felix revealed her situation in the New York Times, Nike has promised to waive performance-related pay reductions for 12 months for any woman deciding to have a baby. Brooks, Burton and Altra have already pledged to provide contractual guarantees too.  Ennis-Hill maintains that more needs to be done. There needs to be something put in writing,” she said. “It’s all a bit wishy-washy at the moment. Some companies will support you, others won’t. It needs to be more standardised so female athletes can think ‘you know, if I want to start a family and come back I will be supported in a way that I will be able to achieve that’.  “There needs to a process, as opposed to the unknown or holding your breath and seeing what happens.”


theguardianuk--2019-07-19--Half of Premier League clubs to have gambling sponsors for 201920

Half of Premier League clubs to have gambling sponsors for 2019/20

Half of the Premier League’s shirts will be emblazoned with a gambling company’s logo during the 2019/20 season, reigniting concern about the normalisation of betting among young fans.  [Premier League](https://www.theguardian.com/football/premierleague) clubs stand to earn a record £349.1m from shirt sponsorship deals in the coming season, a rise of more than 10% compare to £315.6m in 2018/19.  Ten of the 20 top flight clubs will display the branding of a gambling company, up from nine last season and the joint highest number ever, after signing deals worth a combined £69m.  Betting’s dominance is even more pronounced in the Championship, where 17 out of 24 club shirts will show a betting logo, meaning 27 of England’s top 44 clubs have agreed to do so.  The industry tightened its grip on football despite growing concern among MPs, campaigners and even Ladbrokes-owned GVC, which has pledged to end shirt sponsorship.  Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson, who has said the party would [ban gambling companies from football shirts](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/06/ban-betting-firms- football-shirts-labour-gambling) if the party won power, said the gambling industry was undermining its own claims to be behaving responsibly.  “Less than a year ago, we were told by the gambling industry that they are committed to reducing the amount of advertising in football. We were told that we are facing a ‘watershed moment’ in which they would strive to provide an ever safer gambling environment.  “These are their words, not mine. But it is impossible to take these words in good faith when we are actually seeing an increase in gambling advertising around matches.  “The time for warm words is over. Either the industry is going to act in good faith, or we will need stricter regulation of gambling advertising – starting with a ban on football shirt sponsorship.”  While gambling companies are by far the most numerous among football shirt sponsors, they are not the most lucrative according to data compiled by the Sporting Intelligence website.  Manchester United stand to be by far the biggest beneficiary of shirt deals thanks to the club’s $80m-a-year sponsorship deal with US automotive giant Chevrolet, the value of which has risen in sterling terms due to the pound’s weakness against the dollar.  They are closely followed by the £45m-a-year deal that near neighbours Manchester City have with Etihad, the airline owned by Abu Dhabi, the emirate whose royal family includes City owner Sheikh Mansour.  But while none of the top six have a gambling sponsor, the industry accounts for the vast majority of the rest of the 14 remaining clubs’ shirt deals, with Malta-based Betway the biggest contributor via its £10m deal with West Ham United.  “Given gambling companies have accepted the principle of not showing TV ads during football matches because they are visible to children, it is completely unjustifiable for the pre-watershed ban to not extend to shirt sponsorship and pitch perimeter advertising as well,” said recovering gambling addict James Grimes.  Grimes is leading [The Big Step](https://www.gamblingwithlives.org/events/the- big-step), a charity walk from Manchester City to Manchester United, via six clubs that have betting sponsors, to raise money for Gambling With Lives, a charity set up by Liz and Charles Ritchie after son Jack, 24, took his own life following a betting addiction.  A study released earlier this year [warned of “dire consequences”](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/10/football- gambling-dire-consequences-young-men-bet-new-study) due to the industry’s saturation of the game, while recent research has shown [links between gambling and suicide](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/19/problem- gamblers-much-more-likely-to-attempt-suicide-study).  Both [Ladbrokes-owner GVC](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/25 /ladbrokes-owner-proposes-ban-on-gambling-ads-linked-to-sport-gvc) and Paddy Power Betfair have broken ranks with the industry by calling for an end to shirt sponsorship deals.


theindependent--2019-03-20--Barclays to sponsor Womenaposs Super League in multi-million deal

Barclays to sponsor Women's Super League in multi-million deal

Barclays will become the first title sponsor of the Women's Super League after agreeing a multi-million pound partnership with the Football Association.  The three-year deal, running from the start of the 2019/20 season until July 2022, will see the top tier of women's football renamed the Barclays FA Women's Super League.  It is the biggest investment in UK women's sport by a brand and includes the introduction of an annual £500,000 prize fund to be distributed based on final league position.  Kelly Simmons, the FA's director of women's professional game, said in a statement: "Their record, multi-million pound commitment will impact all levels of the game and will support our ambition to make the Barclays FA Women's Super League the world's most successful league, on and off the pitch."  Keep up to date with all the latest news with expert comment and analysis from our award-winning writers


theindependent--2019-07-06--The Tour de France is a festival of apossportwashingapos and cycling is as guilty as the spons

The Tour de France is a festival of 'sportwashing' – and cycling is as guilty as the sponsors

The title sponsor of German professional cycling team, Bora, is Hansgrohe SE – one of the world’s largest suppliers of shower heads and hand showers. As the Tour de France begins today in Brussels, one can see the logic of such a deal: hot, sweaty, dusty days followed by a refreshing post-stage soak in the shower.  That should appeal not only to the competing riders, but also to the millions of fans watching the race either from the side of a French road, or on a mobile device or television somewhere in the world. It’s the kind of alignment between team and sponsor that represents a new face of professional cycling, in which business is helping to consign the sport’s greatly tarnished reputation to the past.  It has been some considerable time since Lance Armstrong’s catalogue of misdemeanours began spilling out in dramatic fashion. Even longer still since Marco Pantani staged his sit-down protest on Stage 12 of the 1998 Tour following police raids, as the race organisers hunted down doping products and their associated paraphernalia.  Casting a glance across the 2019 teams, a new and refreshing air of respectability seems to have transcended the carnage of times past. Among this year’s starters, there’s a team sponsored by a Polish shoe store, one by a Dutch supermarket, another by a Spanish mobile phone company. There’s even an international education provider involved with one of the teams. Respectability personified.  Yet in amongst the corporate glitz and commercial bravado of contemporary professional cycling, another story is brewing, and it may reach boiling point during this year’s Tour.  Late last year, Sky announced that it would be withdrawing from its sponsorship of Britain’s most successful ever professional cycling team (Tour Racing Limited). By March, it had been announced that Ineos, a privately owned UK multinational chemicals company, would be replacing Sky. By May, environmental protestors were attending the Tour de Yorkshire to berate the team’s officials and its riders.  Ineos has a controversial environmental profile; the company’s critics accuse it of being responsible for all manner of activities, ranging from the creation of plastic nurdles that pollute the seas to fracking-induced earthquakes that have hit certain parts of Britain. Ineos has said it is investing in equipment and training as part of a “Zero Pellet Loss” strategy, and has argued that UK quake limits are “absurd”. Nevertheless, some commentators have accused it of “sportwashing”, a term used for a company or country perceived to be trying to cleanse its reputation by investing in sport.  Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos’ billionaire owner, has said the sponsorship is “nothing to do with [sportwashing] at all”.  Perhaps just a useful side-effect then. Critics have still raised concern that the Tour de France deflects attention away from the more socially undesirable parts of a business. Ineos is not the only sponsor coming under fire. Fellow fossil fuel sector company Total will be sponsoring a team this year, while many argue that Bahrain-Merida and UAE Team Emirates come with baggage too, perhaps also the likes of the Astana Pro Team, sponsored by Kazakhstan.  Sportwashing is not just synonymous with environmental issues, it is also held to be a political instrument of nations intent on cleansing how the world sees them. Bahrain has long been in the spotlight for its apparent human rights infringements, which is an issue that motor racing teams competing in the country’s F1 Grand Prix have to contend with on an annual basis. Similarly, football clubs like Manchester City are routinely subjected to scrutiny given significant concerns about its owners from Abu Dhabi.  The glitz of professional sport can be a useful distraction from the alleged suppression of free speech, the torture of political prisoners or restrictions on press freedoms. This week the countries and companies with controversial back stories will be associating themselves one of world sport’s biggest events and all the drama, glamour and European continental flair that it brings.  Maybe it’s down to the fans themselves to pause and ask themselves who is doing the sportwashing and why are they doing it.  Fingers wag most keenly at corporate bad guys and political hardmen, but maybe all of the new teams and their glossy sponsors are complicit. Maybe it’s a communal bath.  As the likes of Ineos and Bahrain join the peloton, they in turn help professional cycling turn the power hose on its own deeply troubled past. Could it actually be the case that the biggest sportwasher of them all is cycling itself?  Human rights abuses and environmental issues can’t be forgotten, but nor should memories of the sport’s drugs history. After years of crisis, accompanied by suspicion and cynicism, cycling somehow seems to have ascended to a level of legitimacy and credibility that, even ten years ago, was unimaginable. And yet, several of those involved in perpetrating cycling’s doping culture remain active in the sport. The communal bath looks very crowded at times – everyone hoping the simple purity of human against mountain, against a backdrop of stunning alpine scenery, manages to mask the lingering stench.  Simon Chadwick is Professor of Sports Enterprise at the University of Salford


themanchestereveningnews--2019-10-11--How much Manchester United can expect to make from a new shirt sponsorship deal

Manchester United might miss out on a record-breaking £100million-a-season shirt sponsorship deal as a result of their recent struggles on the pitch, according to a leading football finance expert.  United have held discussions with a number of leading brands over taking over the shirt sponsorship rights from 2021, when the seven-year deal they signed with American car giant Chevrolet expires.  That package has been worth more than £50million a season to United and when it was signed in the summer of 2012 - to begin from the 2014/15 season - it was a seismic shift in the value of shirt sponsorship.  Now United are 'testing the water' again and it's understood there have been expressions of interest from leading brands, which has encouraged those within the club that the value of the rights remains high. But Rob Wilson, a football finance expert from Sheffield Hallam University, believes that while the club will be looking for an increase on the existing Chevrolet deal, they might fall short of the kind of huge sums they would have hoped for.  “They might nudge it up to £65 or £70million (a season), but I think the deal will be much smaller [in length] than Chevrolet’s seven years, then they can go back and renegotiate," he told the MEN.  "But the reality is if they had that sporting success we’d have been talking about breaking £100million in my opinion. If we were having this conversation post-Ferguson and on the back of all the success I’d say they’d be looking at £100m to £120m a season now, but the reality is that given the last four or five years they’re going to find it difficult."  United's shirt sponsorship rights have been on an inexorable rise since Sharp became the first brand to be emblazoned on those famous shirts. Since then Vodafone, AIG, AON and Chevrolet have followed suit, with a sharp increase in the figures every time a new deal has been struck.  Nigel Currie, a sports marketing and sponsorship expert and the former joint chairman of the European Sponsorship Association, was involved in negotiating the Vodafone deal.  “The Manchester United marketing machine is almost like no other, the shirt sponsorship deals they’ve done over the years have been incredible," he explains.  "Sharp were on the shirt when they did the treble and were paying £1million a year at that time, which was a lot. Vodafone came in and were paying £6m or £7m a year until 2006.  "Then AIG came in and paid £13m or £14m a year, then AON came in and they were paying £20m a year, then Chevrolet came in and paid £50m a year."  But since Sharp first sponsored United in the early 1980s, the four deals since have been made while United have been a consistent winning machine under Sir Alex Ferguson .  Now, six years on from Ferguson's retirement, United linger in the bottom half of the Premier League table after eight games of this season, with their title drought clearly set to extend to seven years.  “Where United stands at the moment is a little bit tricky. All of those deals were through the good times in terms of their playing success, but where it stands now is anybody’s guess," Currie told the MEN.  "I think Manchester United buck the trend a bit in that they’re such an iconic team and brand that there is a huge extra value they have.  "But I do think there’s got to come a time when there will be a slowing of that growth in the shirt market, particularly if they’re not playing Champions League football."  There has been a long held view that United's commercial value is almost immune to the club's position on the pitch, with new deals continuing to be struck despite the slump since Ferguson retired.  Revenue has certainly continued to grow, with Ed Woodward announcing a record total of £627million in his most recent investors call last month, while he stressed in that call that the commercial success of United is essential to 'underpin' the investment on the football side of the business.  But Wilson believes those figures could be even higher if United were continuing to experience success on the pitch.  "All the research we’ve done at the university showed sporting and commercial performance are inextricably linked," he said.  "What you had at United were these multi-year deals, so they were protected and still had big money from a shirt sponsor, a shirt manufacturer, the shirt sleeve sponsor. In the market there is a narrative that they still have big deals, they have the biggest shirt sleeve sponsor, but how big should that deal have been had they been as successful as they had been historically on the field?"  United are said to be relaxed regarding the value of shirt sponsorship rights from 2021, with the expressions of interest they've had from some leading brands encouraging them that the value remains high, with recent research that showed the club now had a fanbase of 1.1bn people attractive to potential partners.  While that kind of attraction won't suddenly disappear, Willson strikes a note of caution if United's on-pitch performances don't once again catch up with their commercial might.  "There has to be a realisation that on field success is now naturally going to have an impact on their commercial ability," he said. "They will remain a significantly sized club from a revenue point of view because of the sheer size of their fanbase, you don’t lose that overnight.  "But what will happen if that sporting success doesn’t begin to improve is that those other competitors will overtake them. If there’s a really big ticket shirt sponsor out there they’ll be asking who will they get maximum exposure for and I’m not sure United are in the top four or five for that."


themanchestereveningnews--2019-10-11--Manchester United stance on shirt sponsorship deal revealed

Manchester United have had interest from some of the world's leading brands over becoming the club's new shirt sponsor from 2021 onwards.  The seven-year deal with Chevrolet will expire at the end of next season and MEN Sport understands the club have begun to 'test the water' over a new shirt sponsor.  While the American car giant remains a part of that discussion, United could well end up with a new shirt sponsor from the 2021/22 season onwards if no new deal with Chevrolet is agreed.  If that is the case it will be just the sixth different shirt sponsor in United's history, following Sharp, Vodafone, AIG, AON and Chevrolet.  The deal with Chevrolet was announced in July 2012, with their shirt sponsorship beginning from the 2014/15 season. That deal has been worth more than £50million a season to United and the club are relaxed about the next deal, with indications that the value of sponsorship rights for the club remain strong.  It is those commercial deals and sponsorship revenue that remains important to United's investment on the pitch, with the revenue reinvested in the playing side of the club, as Ed Woodward stressed on his most recent conference call with investors.  “We and our growing global fanbase demand success,” he said. "Success means winning trophies.  “That target and that standard has never changed for Manchester United. The progress we made on the business side underpins the continued investment in the football side.”  A United spokesperson said: "Chevrolet is a fantastic partner and we will continue to work with them to activate and maximise the sponsorship."


thesun--2019-01-10--What is Cristiano Ronaldos net worth and what sponsorship deals does the Juventus star have Heres

What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth and what sponsorship deals does the Juventus star have? Here’s all you need to know

CRISTIANO RONALDO is one of the greatest footballers of his generation - and his earnings match his success.  Now plying his trade with Italian giants Juventus, the Portuguese superstar rakes in £500,000-per-week as the sides premium goal-threat.  ![ Cristiano Ronaldo is now in full goalscoring throttle at Juventus after a slow start]()  EPA  Cristiano Ronaldo is now in full goalscoring throttle at Juventus after a slow start  But that does not include tens of millions more each year from modelling, sponsorship deals and endorsements.  CR7 is the world's most popular athlete with over 200 million social media followers, helping him land head-to-toe sponsorships including Nike,Tag Heuer, Sacoor Brothers suits and Monster headphones.  Here SunSport tries to fathom the most glamorous footballer in the world's net worth...  ![ Cristiano Ronaldo opens his Pestena CR7 hotel in the Madeira capital of Funchal]()  Getty Images  Cristiano Ronaldo opens his Pestena CR7 hotel in the Madeira capital of Funchal  ## What is Cristiano Ronaldo's main income?  His current Juventus deal will see him rake in a net salary of £500,000 a week.  Meanwhile, his lifetime contract with the sportswear manufacturers Nike, which began in 2003, is worth an [astonishing £1billion in itself](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2142168/cristiano-ronaldo- signs-1billion-lifetime-contract-with-nike-only-days-after-agreeing-500000-a -week-real-madrid-contract/).  Those two agreements will push the Portuguese sensation into uncharted waters as he becomes football’s first billionaire.  [Ronaldo](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/cristiano-ronaldo)’s burgeoning business empire also includes two hotels at present, underwear, CR7 blankets, facial fitness devices and shampoo, to name but a few.  The Portuguese is an ambassador for brands such as KFC  ## What sponsorship deals does Ronaldo have?  There are almost too many to mention, but Nike is the main one - and it is the single biggest sponsorship deal in the world for a sport star, bringing Ronaldo in over £169m last year alone.  A selection of others includes:  **Armani** :  He replaced his former Manchester United David Beckham for the endorsement of the Armani. Ronaldo modeling for the Emporio Armani men’s underwear and Jeans.  **Castrol** : Ronaldo became the brand Ambassador of **** Castrol in 2009 by signing deal of £8.2m for two years. He extended his affiliation with Castrol as he renewed the contract with £5.5m.  **Tag Heuer** : He joined the luxury watch brand Tag Heuer in 2014, as long term brand Ambassador.  Others include Coca Cola, KFC, video games maker Konami and airline Emirates.  ![ Ronaldo models his new CR7 home range of underwear]()  Getty Images  Ronaldo models his new CR7 home range of underwear  ## Does Ronaldo have his own ranges and companies?  You bet he does. As well as lending his name to other brands, he his own CR7 logo is hugely popular.  Named after Cristiano Ronaldo himself, it is his personal brand of underwear - but now he has expanded it with different categories like sportswear and footwear, and sock collection.  As well as that, he has has his own hotels in Portugal's capital Lisbon, and his hometown of Funchal on the island of Madeira.  His hobbies are many, but mainly include cars (he drives a £207,000 Lamborghini Aventador, along with a Maserati), as well as property and to his credit, a lot of charity work.  ![ The Portuguese became the best paid sportsman in the world at Madrid]()  Getty Images  The Portuguese became the best paid sportsman in the world at Madrid  ## Is Ronaldo worth it?  Ronaldo left [Real Madrid](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1250296/real-madrid/) as the highest scorer in their history after joining the Spanish club from [Manchester United](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196656 /manchester-united/) in 2009 for a then-record £80m million transfer fee.  He led the team to three [Champions League ](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/champions-league/)crowns, including in 2016 when Ronaldo hit the game-winning kick in a penalty shoot-out to defeat Atletico Madrid.  Added to that, he has won a record five Ballon d'Or trophies, including one in 2008 when he was at United.  Ronaldo topped off a magical year in 2016 with the Euro triumph over France his first international trophy.  ## So what is Ronaldo's total net worth?  It is actually hard to estimate exactly, but somewhere between £210m and £230m factoring in our lack of exact knowledge into his various deals, and discrepancies in how much he earns.  But what is undisputed is that he is the best paid football AND overall sportsman in the world, beating basketball start LeBron James and his Barcelona footballing nemesis [Lionel Messi](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who /lionel-messi) into second and third.


thesun--2019-05-31--Gay international footballer says he cant come out for fear sponsors will drop him

Gay international footballer says he can’t come out for fear sponsors will drop him

A GAY international footballer is afraid of revealing his sexuality in case his sponsors drop him.  Website [Get French Football News](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019 /homophobia-the-moving-testimony-over-a-former-ligue-1-star/) have released an interview, in English, with a journalist who spoke with the footballer in question - who started his career in France and is still active.  ![ A footballer playing in the French Ligue 1 opened up on his struggles with being gay to a journalist in 2011]()  2  A footballer playing in the French Ligue 1 opened up on his struggles with being gay to a journalist in 2011Credit: Getty - Contributor  Alexandre Birraux started investigating what French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet described only last year as the "taboo" in the sport back in 2011.  There he met with a young pro, who has been given the false name 'Lucas'.  And Birraux has spoken about a shocking conversation he had with the player when his fame started growing bigger than just Ligue 1.  Birraux said: “He called me in tears, asking to come and see me because he couldn’t take it anymore."  He went on to describe how the player, who has since gone on to play for his country, said that he was afraid to come out as his "sponsors will drop him" and that he would be "insulted everywhere he plays".  The footballer also admitted he used women to keep his cover, partying with them and leading a double-life.    ## HOMOPHOBIC TEAM-MATES  And things weren't any better in training and during matches.  The secret footballer revealed to Birraux that homophobic words were used by players in training to "motivate each other".  Words like "queer" and "poof" were uttered on regular occasions.  And the player went on to admit that there was "homophobia of certain team- mates which is often unfortunately linked to religion".  Perhaps one of the most shocking revelations by the player was that he worried that someone he was playing in the same team as "could be violent and wish him harm".  These concerns were raised to the president of the club in question, but apparently they "didn't react".  To this day the footballer has kept his sexuality a secret because he "likes football too much" and has been left frustrated by authorities "being reactive, dealing with controversies, but not attacking the heart of the problem".  Even back in 2011 the player saw that "things were starting to happen, but it's a long road" - and eight years later he is still to come out.  Unfortunately, as he continues his career, homosexuality in football continues to leave far too many unanswered questions than it offers solutions.  Thomas Hitzlsperger came out as gay in 2014, a year after retiring, while Justin Fashanu and American Robbie Rogers both did so during their playing careers.  ![ The player started his career in French Ligue 1, but has since moved to play abroad]()  2  The player started his career in French Ligue 1, but has since moved to play abroadCredit: Getty


thesun--2019-08-12--Raheem Sterling could sign mega 100m boot deal with Nike Air Jordan as Man City star is eyed for lu

Raheem Sterling could sign mega £100m boot deal with Nike Air Jordan as Man City star is eyed for lucrative sponsorship

RAHEEM STERLING could sign a monster £100million boot deal with Nike Air Jordan with the England star eyed for a lucrative sponsorship.  Jordan brand are hoping to take on Nike and adidas having broken into the football market just a year ago.  ![ Raheem Sterling could sign a £100m boot deal with Jordan]()  3  Raheem Sterling could sign a £100m boot deal with JordanCredit: Reuters  ![ Jordan already have a deal with PSG - sponsoring their kit]()  3  Jordan already have a deal with PSG - sponsoring their kitCredit: Instagram  [Sterling](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/raheem-sterling/), 23, could become one of the first players to wear Jordan - a subsidiary of Nike - football boots.  Jordan only broke into football around a year ago, taking on the branding of Paris Saint-Germain's kit.  Now they are set to table one of the most lucrative boot deals in the world to lure Sterling into signing with them.  The figure is a proposed £100m, but is subject to change based on the number of years they offer.  ## FROM NBA TO THE PREM?  Jordan are a major player in basketball, with some of the biggest names in NBA signed up with legend Michael Jordan's own brand, established in 1984.  They also have deals in baseball's MLB and even in music circles.  But their recent foray into football appears to be gathering pace as they chase one of the biggest names in the sport.  Sterling already has sponsorship deals with EA Sports and Microsoft - and is being chased by H&M and Gillette too.  ![]()  3  The England and [Manchester City](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196654/manchester-city/) star is already being seen as one of the most marketable names in football.  Sterling recently put pen to paper on a new long-term contract at the Etihad, committing his future to the Premier League champions until at least 2023.  Now the 51-cap Three Lions international could become the face of Jordan as they look to battle footballing powerhouses adidas, boasting the likes of Lionel Messi on their books and Cristiano Ronaldo's adidas.  Raheem Sterling gives Liverpool fans his Man City shirt after Community Shield win


thesun--2019-09-05--Chelsea hunting new shirt sponsor as 200m deal with Yokohama Tyres enters final year

Chelsea hunting new shirt sponsor as £200m deal with Yokohama Tyres enters final year

CHELSEA are hunting for a new shirt sponsor as their £200million deal with Yokohama Tyres enters its final year.  The Blues' five-year partnership with the Japanese company was the second- biggest in the Premier League when it was announced in 2015.  ![ Chelsea's £200m deal with Yokohama Tyres ends next summer]()  2  Chelsea's £200m deal with Yokohama Tyres ends next summerCredit: AFP  ![ The most lucrative Premier League shirt sponsors]()  2  The most lucrative Premier League shirt sponsors  But now they go into the final few months of their deal, debating whether to extend it or test the market.  Since [Chelsea](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196660/chelsea/) put pen to paper on the £40m-a-year contract A[rsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool all signed similar sponsorship deals](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9580608/spurs-shirt-sponsor- 320m-arsenal-chelsea-man-utd/).  However, all four clubs are streets behind Manchester United, who rake in £53m per season from Chevrolet.  Chelsea could opt to extend their partnership with Yokohama Tyres - and even went to Japan during pre-season.  ## SUMMER IN JAPAN  Frank Lampard's side played against J League champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama - losing 1-0.  The visit to Japan was Chelsea's first in the four years since signing with the tyre company - despite being frequently hounded to play there.  While the Blues were in the Far East, The Athletic claim club officials held talks with Yokohama Tyres over extending their deal beyond the summer of 2020.  Chelsea's stock may have fallen slightly in the past few seasons, having slipped out of contention in the Premier League, way behind the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.  And despite now having lost star man Eden Hazard, the Blues did win last season's Europa League and are more than capable of generating plenty of sponsorship revenue.  Their Europa League win over Arsenal means they are now back in the big time of the Champions League.  The Stamford Bridge side are likely to reject anything less than their current £40m-a-year deal.  Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is a transfer target for hometown sides Bilbao and Real Sociedad after blip in Blues form


thetelegraph--2019-03-20--Womens Super League receives boost as Barclays steps in with record multi-million pound sponsorship

Women's Super League receives boost as Barclays steps in with record multi-million pound sponsorship deal

The Women’s Super League will benefit from the biggest-ever investment in UK women’s sport by a brand when Barclays takes over as the division’s first title sponsor from the 2019-20 season in a three-year deal understood to be worth more than £10 million.  The partnership with the financial services company, which also supports the men’s Premier League, will see record levels of investment in the women’s game as well as prize money offered for the first time.  The WSL is Europe’s only fully professional domestic women’s football league, with all clubs full-time as of this season.  An annual £500,000 prize fund will be available from next season, the distribution of which is still to be decided by the Football Association’s women’s board, but is likely to be based on league position. The prize fund for the WSL is currently zero, with clubs instead given grants by the FA for their inclusion in the league.  Kelly Simmons, the FA’s director of the women’s professional game, confirmed that the governing body had received sponsorship offers from several organisations, but said the deal “will impact all levels of the game and will support our ambition to make the Barclays FA Women’s Super League the world’s most successful league”.


thetelegraph--2019-04-05--Womens Sevens World Series expanded as sponsors encourage gender equality

Women's Sevens World Series expanded as sponsors encourage gender equality

World Rugby have taken another step towards addressing gender equality in  the sport with the decision to increase the amount of Sevens World Series legs where the men and women's competitions are aligned - a move driven by title sponsor HSBC.  Telegraph Sport can also reveal the bank played an important role in increasing the amount of legs in the Women’s Series from six to eight next season. From 2019 to 2023, the men will play 10 legs, while the women will play eight, six of which run concurrently with the men.  This season there have only been two tournaments where the men and women have been aligned – Dubai in December and Sydney in January. With the Hong Kong sevens kicking off today (Friday),...


thetelegraph--2019-08-03--MeToo is the driver for sponsors in womens golf

MeToo is the driver for sponsors in women's golf

Women’s golf has experienced a significant surge in sponsorship in the wake of the MeToo movement - and there is much more to come.  Mike Whan, commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, said that there has been a shift in attitudes from big business over the past few years as they looked take advantage of the higher profile women's sports worldwide are enjoying.  Whan, who previously held senior roles in the golf divisions of the leading firms Wilson, TaylorMade and Adidas, said he had noticed a dramatic change since taking over at the LPGA nine years ago.  He said that in his first four or five years in the role, it was tough to get big name sponsors interested in women's golf.  But Mr Whan said: “The past few years has been the opposite, thanks to women’s empowerment, the MeToo movement, and women’s leadership.  No matter where you are in the world, that (change) is going on. It is not an American thing. It is not a European thing. It is not an Asian thing. It is  a global thing. And the good news is that it is not a fad, it is not going away.”  Whan believes the MeToo Movement, which began as backlash to sexual harassment against women in the film industry two years ago, but which has since broadened into a campaign to boost women's roles across all sectors, has played a “definite” role in bringing women’s golf to the attention of potential sponsors.


theguardianuk--2019-09-05--Huddersfield fined 50000 by FA for kit sponsorship stunt

Huddersfield fined £50,000 by FA for kit sponsorship stunt

[Huddersfield](https://www.theguardian.com/football/huddersfield) have been fined £50,000 after admitting a charge relating to the Football Association’s kit and advertising regulations. The club were widely criticised for a sash- style shirt which bore the logo of a controversial bookmaker when they unveiled it as their home kit in July.  They wore the shirt in a friendly against Rochdale on 17 July, with the logo appearing to exceed the Football Association’s guidelines of 250 square centimetres, and were charged with misconduct. Huddersfield and the bookmaker admitted it was a stunt before the Championship club brought out a sponsor- free kit for this season.  On Thursday the FA confirmed the club, relegated from the Premier League, had been sanctioned and warned over their future conduct.  The bookmaker, Paddy Power, tweeted in response: “1st August: [The FA fine Millwall £10,000 for supporters’ racist chanting](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/aug/01/millwall- fined-10000-for-supporters-racist-chanting-at-everton-fa-cup-tie). 5th September: The FA fine Huddersfield Town £50,000 for wearing a fake shirt in a pre-season friendly.”  The FA’s written reasons included a signed witness statement from the referee Martin Coy, who said Huddersfield’s chairman, Phil Hodgkinson, had asked him to ban the kit, which “could then potentially be good publicity and part of the advertising campaign.”  Coy’s statement read: “He said that the kit was not actually their real kit and it was all part of an advertising campaign. He said that he did not want the squad to wear the kit as the FA had informed ‘HTFC’ by phone call that it would be a breach of their regulations.  “He said that he was new to the chairman role, this being his first game and he didn’t want to be charged by the FA. He said that he wanted me to ban them from wearing the kit and said that my decision could then potentially be good publicity and part of the advertising campaign.  “I was uncomfortable with this and felt it was not my place to ban the kit outright, but I informed them that I would recommend they followed the rules and advice from the FA. I also stated that I did not want to be part of any publicity.”


theindependent--2019-10-10--Manchester United chasing lucrative shirt sponsor as Chevrolet deal nears end

Manchester United are in the process of looking at a new, big-money shirt sponsorship deal, PA understands.  Chevrolet has been front and centre of the shirt since 2014 in a Premier League record agreement worth around £450m over the course of the seven-year deal.  The American car manufacturer’s sponsorship ends in 2021 and PA understands United are speaking to a number of companies about becoming the next main sponsors.  Chevrolet could yet extend their agreement with the Old Trafford giants, who have had expressions of interest from a variety of leading brands despite their current Premier League struggles.  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sit 12th in the standings and just two points above the relegation zone following Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle.  Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward recently pledged to continue using United’s financial success to help take the 20-time league champions look to return to the top of the English game.  “We and our growing global fanbase demand success,” he said when announcing record revenues of £627m last month.  “That target and that standard has never changed for Manchester United. The progress we made on the business side underpins the continued investment in the football side.”


thetelegraph--2019-05-21--Manchester City are damaging football with state sponsored cash says La Liga president

Manchester City are damaging football with 'state sponsored' cash, says La Liga president

Manchester City are damaging European football by driving up player prices with their "state-sponsored" cash reserves, according to the head of Spain's top tier.  Javier Tebas, the outspoken president of La Liga, was critical of a lack of regulation from Uefa, which he also denounced over proposals which could severely limit entrance criteria to the Champions League to create billions more pounds for Europe's biggest clubs.  Tebas has been a long-standing critic of City, owned by Abu Dhabi's Sheik Mansour, and has previously expressed doubts over whether the Premier League champions or Paris St-Germain would face sanctions because of a tangled web of financial relationships with Europe's governing body. Both City, who are facing a looming one-year ban over an alleged £60million deception, and PSG deny wrong-doing over financial fair play.  "The problem with PSG and City is they’re state-run clubs: one off petrol-money, one off gas," Tebas said. "The damage happening on Euro football is massive because they are inflating the market so clubs have to pay ridiculous sums to keep their players."  He said he was in favour of a new system across Europe which might level the playing field. "What I'm in favour of regulating is sector that is not at [the] mercy of finances," he said. "Any money that is generated outside this sector forms this unbridgeable gap."


birminghammail--2019-01-27--Wes Hoolahan discusses his West Brom future ahead of contract expiry

Wes Hoolahan has expressed his desire to remain at West Bromwich Albion for at least the rest of the season.  The Irishman, who played in Albion’s 0-0 draw at Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, will be out of contract at the end of this month.  Having signed on a free transfer in September, Hoolahan has made eight appearances for the Baggies including three starts in the cup competitions.  The 36-year-old midfielder is eyeing an extended stay at The Hawthorns, having enjoyed his time at the club thus far - even if his game time has been restricted.  “I’m just happy to be playing and out there training,” Hoolahan told the Irish Times.  “If you’re young you might be thinking about the next step in your career and worrying about it, but in 17 years of professional football I’ve done it all before, so whatever happens happens.  “I’m just happy to be involved. I played yesterday, we did well, it was a good performance against Brighton so obviously I’ll go in and speak with the gaffer and see what the situation is.  “I feel fit and strong, so if it came to it I’d look at what’s out there alright.”


birminghammail--2019-02-18--Were getting there The Rekeem Harper contract update West Brom fans will love

'We're getting there' The Rekeem Harper contract update West Brom fans will love

West Brom are making progress in their efforts to tie down talented young midfielder Rekeem Harper with a new contract.  Harper has cemented his place in the team with a string of excellent performances since getting the nod in Albion’s FA Cup win over Wigan at the start of January.  The 18-year-old is out of contract this summer and the Baggies are keen to ensure the highly-rated youngster doesn’t go anywhere.  Negotiations over a new deal “have moved on”, according to head coach Darren Moore, who has started Harper in Albion’s last nine fixtures.  “I believe his advisers and our advisers at the club have proposed a deal,” he said. “We’re one step again closer. We have moved on. Obviously it’s about Rekeem’s advisers and us coming to an agreement. We’re getting there.”  Converted from a striker to a midfielder three years ago by Albion’s academy staff, Harper occupied three different positions in Saturday’s win at Villa.  Harper, who grew up in Aston, was coy when asked after the match about his long-term Albion future.  He said: “I don’t really want to talk about that. I’m just trying to focus on my football, keep playing, keep showing the fans what I’m about and keep helping the team win – that’s my focus.”  Harper’s form will not have got unnoticed by Premier League clubs on the lookout for young English talent.  Albion have had their fingers burned in the past with regards to losing promising young players nurtured within the academy.  Izzy Brown landed a move to Chelsea while Yan Dhanda and Jerome Sinclair were both picked up as teenagers by Liverpool.  The situation is different with Harper, who is further along with his development having now played a good number of first-team games.  Moore, who first encountered him as a youth-team coach at The Hawthorns, is not unduly worried about higher-league vultures.  “I’m not concerned because I feel the right place for him is West Brom,” he said. “Rekeem’s a local boy, he’s still young and needs his family around him.  “He’s still establishing himself as an elite footballer, he’s doing extremely well. I think this is the club to keep him right, we know his strengths, where he needs to improve, and he is improving. He’s enjoying his football so why change that?  “His development is here, it’s wonderful for the fans to see him grow in stature. There’s still aspects of the game we work on with Rekeem every single day. We want to see him stay here, his advisers agree he should stay, it’s just a matter of getting it sorted now.”  After a period of adjustment, while he got to grips with the hostile atmosphere, Harper handled his first big local derby against Villa with genuine maturity and authority.  “His ability to soak up the atmosphere was incredible,” Moore added. “His use of the ball was excellent, he travelled well with it and has got wonderful energy and speed. He’s going to be a top player for us.  “You’ve seen him this season, the performances are getting stronger and better. We asked him to be patient and he’s shown he has the appetite to cope at this level.  “For him to play in a local derby and put in a performance like he did, is one he and his family can be proud of.  “We’ll work on his weaknesses. But it’s a proud moment to see the academy players on the frontline. That’s what we intend to do at this club.”


birminghammail--2019-03-20--Barry Harper Brunt - How long West Brom players have left on their contracts

Barry, Harper & Brunt  - How long West Brom players have left on their contracts

West Brom are facing a summer of change regardless of the division they're operating in next season.  As Darren Moore's troops continue their push for the Premier League, careful and considered planning is going on behind the scenes.  Moore has made 11 signings in total this season with six players still remaining on loan.  Who could Albion tie down to new deals in the coming months? And who is likely to leave at the end of the season?  We take a look here as to how the contracts are looking in the squad.  Hoolahan and Mears both had their short term contracts extended until the end of the season.  Brunt had a one-year option enacted after impressing at the end of the Premier League season.  Morrison, Myhill and Barry were also handed extensions for a further 12 months.  Harper has been offered a new deal after his superb start to senior football but is yet to sign.  Whether new deals will be offered to any of the others above remains to be seen.  Albion have used the loan market to their advantage this season.  After losing Harvey Barnes in January, Moore replenished his squad with Murphy, Johansen and Montero as well as bringing Holgate from Everton.  Decisions will be made on their future when Albion know what division they are playing in.  Holgate and Gayle have been the stand-out performers and the club would be keen to sign them permanently if they are promoted,  Five players are tied down until 2020. Wales striker Robson-Kanu signed a contract extension last summer, as did defender Craig Dawson.  Winger Phillips and young midfielder Edwards are tied down for another two years, as is goalkeeper Bond who joined from Reading.  Leko was recently handed a new three-year deal to show what he can do at the club.  Gibbs and Rodriguez both signed four year deals last year.  And Bartley and Townsend, arrivals from Swansea City and Scunthorpe United respectively during the transfer window, were also tied down until 2021.  Burke, 21, who joined from Red Bull Leipzig for a fee of around £15m, is contracted until 2022 at The Hawthorns.  He's currently out on loan at Celtic and Albion insist he will not be sold.  Hegazi also has a long-term contract after Albion converted his loan into a permanent transfer in December.  Youngster Field put pen to paper on a long-term deal in July while Johnstone signed on the dotted line for five years when the Baggies bought him from Manchester United.  Jake Livermore signed an extension to secure his future at The Hawthorns.  For all your latest Albion news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here