News is coming through that Newcastle United have said it is terminating its sponsorship deal with Virgin Money a year early, after the two year deal was only signed last January, and said to be worth up to £20M, over the two years.
Newcastle will be announcing a new sponsor soon, and a Virgin Money spokesman said they wanted to continue as the team’s main sponsor, so we can only assume Newcastle have agreed a much better financial deal with some other sponsor.
The news deal should be announced soon, but will not take effect until next season.
Newcastle issued this statement this afternoon:
“Whilst Virgin Money will remain as club sponsor until the end of the current season, Newcastle United has chosen to exercise its contractual right, as both parties had the option to do, to end the two-year sponsorship deal with the bank at the end of this season.” “The Virgin Money name will continue to be worn on the iconic black and white shirts for the remainder of this season.”
Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive of Virgin Money issued the following statement:
“We were delighted to sponsor Newcastle United given the club’s importance to the North East and had hoped that this would be a relationship that would flourish for years to come.” “However, they have found a different option and we have to respect that.” “We remain sponsor until the end of the current season and the Virgin Money name will continue to be worn on the iconic black and white shirts until then.”
Newcastle United Managing Director Derek Llambias added issued this statement:
“We have enjoyed a very successful partnership with Virgin Money, however we have decided to end the agreement early and we will be announcing a new sponsorship partner shortly, which represents an excellent commercial deal for both parties.”
We kind of liked the Virgin Money logo on the shirts and the red lettering matched in well with the famous black and white striped shirts.
But where money is involved of course that means nothing – and it will be interesting to see who the new sponsors are – and whether they have also signed up for the naming rights to St. James’ Park as part of the deal.
It seems clear that Newcastle have forged a better financial deal with another sponsor, and that was probably helped with the club now competing again in Europe.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
311 comments so far
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Comment #1The Nufcblog.com arena?
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Comment #2Quick boater – blast this article with your cynicism ray!
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Comment #3the nufcblog.co.UK arena. ooooh controversial
Dannyo
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Comment #4Yes Ibiza, YES!!!
And the new name on the stadium will be Optimism Valley!
Lol.
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Comment #5The Date-a-local-slag-Stadium?
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Comment #6aldi arena?
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Comment #7The Ketsy Arena @Optimism Valley
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Comment #8Actually my suggestion @3 is virtually the same as Sports Direct Arena. OOOh 2!
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Comment #9ketsy on the shirts and the scharner stadium
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Comment #10Oh dear, eight posts in and it’s clear to see that Tsunki’s influence of well thought out discussion is over.
Right then, which of you tw@’s needs bullying?
Eeny meenie miney mo….
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Comment #11@ibiza i could do with a good bullying
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Comment #12ppb….How about a thrashing with daffodils? A pounding of optimism?
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Comment #13Ibiza – ME ME ME ME ME!
I knew Ed would buckle and give up this highbrow charade.
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Comment #14@ibiza a cat of nine daffodils?
depends how long your “optimism” stretches
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Comment #15Tsunki….You would seem an obvious candidate. If anyone needed their head deflating today, it is you 🙂
ROSHAN MAGPIE
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Comment #16magpie s arena
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:54 PM
Comment #17@ibiza i want you to pound me with your optimism……ooh err
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Comment #18ppb….A cat of nine daffodils? You have me there good sir, please explain.
My optimism is a grower, it stretches as far as the greatest optimists. I hope this clarifies things for you.
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Comment #19Samsung is the sponsor.
Super Magpie
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #20You just know it will be Sports Direct…
PennStateToon
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #21Repost in case anyone is interested………And as an additional tidbit of information no professional teams in america have a youth system like football clubs in england do. In some sports they have affiliates that play in lower leagues and they can call up players from these affiliates if they choose. Think of it as if the PL, Championship, and lower leagues were all connected. Instead of each league containing independent teams, the teams are all affiliated with someone in a higher league up. Because there is no promotion and relegation, the leagues all have very similar talent pools. It would be as if say Newcastle was associated with a team in the championship. They could send players back and forth between each other at their leisure. A lot of the very young players that are drafted into the top level of the professional leagues over here, are immediately sent down to a lower level affiliate for a few years to hone their skills. Very similar to Newcastle loaning young players to lower league teams in Europe.
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Comment #22@ibiza like a cat of nine tails but made of daffodils.
if you still dunno look up cat of nine tails
wynsleap
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Comment #23Be afraid. Be very afraid!
Whatever the new deal is, it will be for the benefit of Mike Ashley and not Newcastle United.
I can see it now – red and blue shirts with the Sports Direct logo on one side, JJB Sports on the reverse, Karrimor running down one sleeve and Donnay running down the other with Lonsdale on both socks.
All our players will look like F1 drivers.
Feeling quite sick and worried about this actually.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Comment #24ppb….A little tip. That doesn’t work as a chat up line…often.
cla5hb0y68
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Comment #25Announced on the same day as the news that JJB sports has gone into administration, which ashley has been rumoured to be snapping up? The plot thickens…. However, if ending the virgin deal early is better for club and allows us to progress then can’t see the problem.
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Comment #26would it be sports direct? would that benefit ashley? no
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Comment #27@ibiza you’re right. “a little tip” isn’t a great chat up line. unless the girl (or guy) likes self deprecating humour
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Comment #28Wynsleap…How out of character. Not like you to jump to a negative extreme, what’s up?
ppb….I imagine you have one kicking around the house somewhere which we could modify?
Pennstate…Certainly learning a lot today. Thanks for the info.
Super….How much money being paid would it take for you to be happy about SD being our sponsor?
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Comment #29ppb – Galaxy Arena? Full of stars ho ho ho.
PennState – yeah I did know about the non relegation/promotion system and it has its own benefits, I believe in europe, Spain I think, rather than reserve squads they can have ‘b’ teams who play in a division down and dont get promoted.
Super Magpie
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Comment #30@25
Very suspicious, I’ll be very P*ssed off it that’s the case.
It must be a Shirt and Stadium sponsor if they’ve ended this deal early.
Any news as to when we find out who our new sponsor is?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Comment #31ppb…Look who is on form today 😉 I’m sure it was obvious, but I was referring to “pounding with optimism”.
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:10 PM
Comment #32Its at this point I must bid a bientot, but rest assured, as I leave, sense will surely rush in to fill the sizeable void.
Can’t believe I spent a whole day off sick on this blog I need my head looking at 😀
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Comment #33@ibiza i certainly do
@tsunki nufc @ the frosties arena. they’re greaaaat
Super Magpie
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Comment #34Ibiza
Enough money for me to buy Sports Direct and then make sure it wouldn’t happen. 😀
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Comment #35NEW TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TONIGHT YAY…
Ahem… I mean this whole sponsorship business is awfully silly. Seriously though, the greggs arena would be the best choice, as they might start selling greggs inside sjp.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Comment #36If it gets us a top CB and FB in January it can only be a good thing,what I liked about the Virgin money deal is that it gave me faint hope that Dickie Branson might have been interested in buying us.
Tsunki
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Comment #37I knew someone would tar me with the kitchen fitter brush again. Damn you, DAMN YOU ALL!
I’m off out now t buy a new Kitchen Fitter Brush, £3.45 at toolstation.
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Comment #38@ibiza my mistake……. (blushes and runs off)
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:16 PM
Comment #39Super….So not much then?
Tsunki…..As mentioned earlier, perhaps take the personality test? 😉 Have a good one, you have left quite a void to fill today good sir.
Wizard….A man I can always count on to provide well thought out comments. So glad you’re about 🙂
ppb
Oct 1, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Comment #40@ibiza i can fill any void you like…..
i really should stop