please log in to view this image Official Statement: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...ment-southampton-fc-under-armour-3058747.aspx DTLW
@UnderArmour: Pledges to the future. Welcome to the family @SouthamptonFC #IWILL please log in to view this image
I can't wait for the shirt reveal. To watch people complain and moan and want to go back to Adidas... Also 7yrs? Thought it was five?
Other bits and bobs not in the official announcement: - Saints planning a trip to Baltimore over the summer to take staff and players to Under Armour HQ (excluding those who go to the Euros, potentially) - Saints have an application in to launch an official women's team, which they will hear back on later this month
All sounds very promising to be fair. Can't wait for the new kit, what's the smallest size they do anyone?
Ralph was just on talkSPORT: - historic partnership - about more than just the kit - club is now growing rapidly off-the-field - ultimate aim is still to focus on improving the team - we want to deliver sustained success for the Saints fans to enjoy - we're still thinking long-term at Southampton - Under Armour have already consulted players and staff over their needs - there seems to be idle talk about Ronald - I've been here for three years and that's the way the business seems to be - Ronald is involved in everything that happens here - we're very transparent with him - Ronald, myself and Les are constantly talking about the on and off-the-field development of the club - look at our bench at Everton this weekend and compare it to last season - we are continually improving our squad - I can't imagine anyone not being excited about managing the Saints - Leicester's success shows there's a major opportunity to upset the applecart - that's the way I think the league may be for some time now - we have a great recruitment team - all teams can now go out and spend sums of money they haven't spent before - everyone who got comfortable in the Premier League in the old system needs to be concerned - this is the way the Premier League is going and Saints will look to make the most of it
Ronald says it's a very important deal for the club and shows that Southampton is growing as a club. Under Armour is an important brand to have committed to for seven years. It's all about the ambition of the club and which direction the club like to go, but still he has one more year of contract and he will see what happens when the club sit down to talk with him when the season has finished. Talks haven't started yet and he wants to finish this season, after that there is plenty of time to talk about his contract.
One thing I will say for Saints here with the organisation of this event... Fan channels were actively sought out (SaintsFanTV for one) and invites were put out to fans/bloggers (GeorgeWeahsCousin and co.) as well as just the 'actual' press. I like that a lot. Not in an attempt to land a dig, particularly, but you'd not have seen that under the previous chairman. (Well, duh - obviously I would - but you take my point...)