Northern Rock Newcastle United sponsorship deal ended early...

Hmmm interesting....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-15699182?

Northern Rock has ended its sponsorship deal with Newcastle United early, the BBC has learned.

The £10m deal was renewed in January last year and was due to last four years.

It included a clause allowing the bank to get out after two years, which it has now taken up. It is understood the decision was made on financial grounds.

On Thursday, the club announced its ground St James' Park was being renamed the Sports Direct Arena.

Newcastle-based state-run bank Northern Rock said the end of the sponsorship was nothing to do with the stadium name change, but following a change in the way it spends money on marketing.

In the last few years, Northern Rock has ended its sponsorship deals with Durham County Cricket Club, basketball outfit Newcastle Eagles and rugby union side Newcastle Falcons.

Neither Northern Rock nor Newcastle United would be interviewed on the decision.

'Different way'
But in an interview with BBC Newcastle on Thursday about the stadium name change, Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias said they were looking for a new shirt sponsor.

He said: "I need to find a new shirt sponsor by the end of December - and that's the latest.

"Puma need to put the shirt sponsor on, they're manufacturing, and they would like it last month.

"I've got a very small window to sell the shirt and naming rights and, if I have to sell them separately, then I have to sell them separately."

Newcastle United, who are currently third in the Premier League, said a change to the Sports Direct Arena was a prelude to securing a new global sponsor which would generate more revenue.

It said the club could generate up to £10m a season by attracting a joint shirt and stadium sponsor.

But the announcement about the stadium rename was greeted with anger by fans.

Labour leader Ed Miliband urged Newcastle United to abandon plans to rename its ground.

The Labour leader said football clubs were owned not just by individuals but their supporters, and that given the "overwhelming" opposition of fans the club had a responsibility to find a "different way forward".

 

SD arena it stays then...

 

Not shocked at all they are struggling finacially and already cancelled with DCCC and the Falcons was only a matter of time

 

"Global sponser" - ?
One of the Big boys of advertising maybe: Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Mars? Or am i aiming to high there?

 

Greenpeace

 

So new sponsor on the shirt be January then? Best not order a new shirt eh...

 

this ^

not really a shock or out of the blue

 

Or in my case , hate yourself for buying one last week...

 

Ouch Unlucky man. I WAS getting the third shirt for Xmas and the mother very almost ordered it the other day apparently, glad she didn't though!

 

SD on the shirts in Jan? Or will they just keep the strip the same to see out the season?

 

I've head it's going to be the brown ale area which I could handle to be honest.

 

Surely the contractual agreement will be for the whole season still, they just don't want it for another two seasons.

 

I'm hoping we get a new sponsorship signed up in time, but it's a very small window =/


Come on O2, you know it's worth it!!!!

 

Will the new sponsor not come into effect from the start of next season? as that would be the end of Northern Rock's 2 years. They seem to be bringing out a new shirt design every year, so if you were going to buy it, go ahead.

 

You know what? I don't know to be honest

 

Really hope so, O2 would look really good on the shirts. Sports Direct would made a pile of dog **** look worse.

 

Not606 should sponsor it? bet Mick is loaded!

 

its all a bit of a head blag, your sig isn't helping matters!

All this has just made me think, if someone is going to come in and take up the shirt sponsor/stadium sponsor as a pair will it all not come into effect until next season? meaning it'll be the Sports Direct Arena until at least the end of the season.

 

For all those in the opinion MA and DL are financial whizzkids............lets see if they can negotiate a new sponsor.

Shouldnt be too hard........altho they stooped to the level of chaning the stadium name for no return....

 

Northern Rock will still be on the shirts when we play Man City , right?

Or will we have no sponsor?