Richard Branson’s Virgin Money, is in talks with Newcastle United over replacing Northern Rock as shirt sponsor of the Premier League football team.

This follows Northern Rock ending its sponsorship deal with the club and then being sold to Virgin Money.

The contract runs out at the end of the Premier League season in May next year. It is thought that the Northern Rock deal with Newcastle United was worth around £4m a year.

This follows rumours that Nike are interested in purchasing the naming rights to the Sports Direct Arena stadium.

While no final decision has been made about whether Virgin Money will be the new shirt sponsor, such a move would likely lift the standing of Virgin Money in Newcastle and with the big football fan base in the North-East, where the bank’s branches are located.

In the past few years, Northern Rock has ended its sponsorships deals with Durham County Cricket Club, Newcastle Falcons rugby union team and Newcastle Eagles, the city’s basketball team.

Earlier this month the Magpies announced that its ground, St James’ Park, was being renamed the Sports Direct Arena.

The club is owned by Mike Ashley, founder of the Sports Direct retail brand.

McDonald’s has signed a deal making adidas the official footwear, allergist uniform and apparel provider for the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Games.

The 35th annual Boys Game will be broadcast live on ESPN; the 11th annual Girls Game will air live on ESPNU.

The move gives adidas another platform to take on rival Nike, healing which sponsors the the Jordan Brand Classic. The next event in that series will be played on April 14, viagra 2012, at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. ESPN returns as the broadcast network.

Nike had also bid for exclusive rights to the McDonald’s game.

The 2011 event was sponsored by adidas division Reebok, but the new deal puts adidas front and center on jerseys, hoops shoes and other apparel.

Other sponsors include Coca-Cola, PowerAde and EA Sports.

Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald’s All American Games, said in a statement: “Adidas has a well-deserved global reputation for delivering innovative, stylish, performance-based footwear and apparel. Teaming up with adidas further elevates, and cements, the McDonald’s All-American Games as ‘best-in-class.’”

The McDonald’s All American Games showcases the top senior 24 boys and 24 girls from high schools nationwide, who are chosen from a pool of more than 1,500 nominees. Proceeds from the McDonald’s All American Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities

Former MVPs include Shaquille O’Neal (1989), Kevin Garnett (1995), LeBron James (2003), Dwight Howard (2004) and Kevin Durant (2006).

Lawrence Norman, adidas vp-global basketball, said in a statement: “The best young players in the country compete at the McDonald’s All American Games and we’re excited to partner with the most elite high school basketball showcase in the country. Our latest on-court uniform innovations and industry changing lightweight footwear are a perfect fit for this prestigious high school basketball event.”

With Germany’s DFB Cup is nearing the quarter-final stage in a few weeks, the plans for next season are already are already being put together with a new partner Targobank committing from 2012/13 as official partner of the prestigious club competition.

Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive marketing partner of the German Football Federation (DFB) for the DFB Cup broquered the deal. The contract runs for four years. As one of six partners, the company benefits from high media attention and an industry-exclusive positioning of its brand at one of the most popular football competitions in Germany.

As a partner of the DFB Cup, Targobank will receive an attractive rights package for all 63 matches of the competition. This includes a broad TV presence through LED and static perimeter advertising, comprehensive exploitation rights on the ground as well as many other marketing options in and around the stadiums.

With the new contract period for the marketing of the DFB Cup starting from the 2012 season, Infront is reducing the number of partners for the competition from eleven to six in a move to guarantee all brands involved an even higher presence and visibility. Commercial partners, including Targobank, from the upcoming season onwards, will also be able to use the DFB Cup logo for their communication activities.

In addition, Targobank will activate its sponsorship involvement comprehensively and interact with the football fans. Customers all over Germany will have the opportunity to watch the DFB Cup matches – from the first round up to the finals – live in the stadium and to support their favourite team in the competition.

Jürgen Lieberknecht, Director of Product Management & Marketing at Targobank, said: “For us, the partnership with the DFB Cup means nation-wide presence in a variety of football stadiums from next season onwards. This will help us strengthen our brand recognition as a modern retail bank onsite, making it an ideal complement to our existing sponsorship commitment at SV Werder Bremen.”

Günter Netzer, Executive Director of Infront Sports & Media, added: “We have worked together successfully with Targobank for several years already and are pleased to now be able to expand the partnership at one of the top events in German football. The DFB Cup is a unique format and fascinates fans all over Germany. For commercial partners, this is an excellent platform to approach their customers and employees in an emotional environment.”

Targobank is a retail bank that belongs to the French cooperative bank Crédit Mutuel – one of France’s largest banking groups, which supports 65,000 employees with approximately 19 million customers.

Controversy has strirred in Lancaster as the WEC Group, Blackburn Rovers FC main sponsor has hit out at the club for a lack of leadership especially from owners Venky’s.

Wayne Wild, group director of the WEC Group, in Darwen, has told the Lancashire Telegraph of his frustrations that he has received no direct contact from Venky’s, despite writing a letter of concern to them six weeks ago.

Mr Wild, a Rovers fan for more than 30 years, admits he feels as though WEC are not being valued as clients and fears the negative publicity surrounding the club is having a direct impact on the company.

WEC, an engineering and fabrication company, is the main sponsor of the Darwen End stand and also have corporate hospitality at Ewood Park, with two tables in the Premier Suite, four directors box tickets, four stand tickets and a private box.

Mr Wild has been in contact with commercial manager Simon Williams for more than a month but, despite receiving a late offer on Friday of a meeting with the owners in London on Sunday, he is still waiting to have direct contact with Venky’s.

Mr Wild, said: “I don’t want to be treated like god, because we are not. We are a corporate sponsor and the owners have the authority and right to do what they see fit with the club.

“I don’t think they understand the issues it is causing, though. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is the heart and soul of the town. It has been for ever and certainly since they were in the Premier League.

“It creates employment for the town, the indirect business of people travelling to the games, and the sponsorship. I just feel if I can’t get a reply – as the only paying corporate sponsor – that underlines the frustrations that general supporters are having, because there is no direct contact.

“We feel not valued. As well as the business side I have offered to mediate between the fans and the owners. I feel there is a growing gap between the two. Maybe if they could talk to me, I could relay that message to the fans.”

In his letter to Venky’s chairman Mrs Desai, Mr Wild said the ‘current Ewood experience is not of a corporate entertainment environment’.

He expresses his concern about the disappearance of the old management structure, with most of the old board of directors having now left the club without replacements, and believes the uncertainty around the club is causing fans to turn on each other.

“One of my key issues is the lack of leadership at the top,” he said.

“I have no-one to contact. Steve Kean is reporting direct to the owners. It should be going through a board of directors. There is nobody there. I am having to go to the commercial department who then go to a representative of the owners.

“In terms of the running of the club on a day to day basis there is nobody there. Blackburn Rovers was a model of how to run a football club. The model was worked on over a number of years and that has systematically been wiped out over a short period.

“If they are not interested in talking to anyone the gulf will get wider. We need them to agree to say when they are going to put a solid management team here in Blackburn.

“It is not about the position of the team. It is the whole structure of the club.

“There is no leadership from the top down and fans are turning on fans.”

Mr Wild, whose WEC Group are in their fourth season of sponsoring Blackburn Rovers, has urged Venky’s to start communicating with supporters and insists that is needed before they have the unreserved support of the fans.

“I am willing to act as a mediator between the two,” said Mr Wild.

“I don’t agree with everything the protesters have been doing. I can understand it but I don’t agree with it all. They are just trying to get something done. If my key customer had sent an official letter in, I would have replied immediately. Six weeks down the line I have no form of official reply.

“What I am trying to achieve? I am trying to request some form of communication. If it is direct to me, then I can pass that back to the fans.

“Being a supporter is hard enough to take but paying for the privilege of sponsorship to be linked to this is both embarrassing and damaging to our company name and brand.”

B2B dealer Jelly Communications has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Championship side Crystal Palace to help raise nationwide awareness of its brand with its logo to appear on the back of Eagles shirts.

The Chessington-based firm, pills which is a subsidiary of hardware distributor Frequency Telecom, thumb now has its website’s URL beneath the neckline on the back of the first team shirt and on the reverse of the shorts.

The Jelly Communications branding also features on advertising hoardings around Palace’s home ground of Selhurst Park, as well as in the match-day programmes and on the club’s  website.

The sponsorship, which is Jelly Communications’ first, began last Sunday (November 20) with Crystal Palace’s match at Leicester City.

Frequency Telecom managing director Gareth Limpenny said: “We’ve talked about raising the Jelly Communications profile like this for a while. We want to grow more, and extending the reach of the brand will help with that.

“Jelly is a strong and local south London business and for us to be associated with a leading name in football can only be good for us.”

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today the renewal of TeamFanShop, usa cialis Inc., asthma a subsidiary of Fanatics, LLC, as the preferred e-commerce service hosting official online stores for the USOC through 2020.

In addition, TeamFanShop is now the official online store provider for six of the USOC’s National Governing Bodies.

At the TeamFanShop website fans can choose from hundreds of quality red, white and blue products from the USOC’s official licensees, including Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren and Outerstuff. Apparel and merchandise for the London 2012 Olympic Games is available along with Team USA T-shirts, hats, jerseys, sweatshirts, collectibles and more for children and adults. Fans can also purchase jerseys, apparel and sports equipment from six NGBs, including USA Curling, USA Field Hockey, US Ski and Snowboard, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Team Handball.

Peter Zeytoonjian, USOC Managing Director of Consumer Products, said: “We chose TeamFanShop to power Team USA’s official online store because it offers a full suite of valuable services. TeamFanShop, the USOC and our NGB partners are able to offer our fans and customers a rewarding shopping experience while increasing online sales. The first two years of our partnership have been highly successful, and we look forward to continuing our relationship.”

TeamFanShop’s partnership with the USOC, which began in 2009, includes a highly secure store platform, merchandising solutions, inventory management, personalized store design, an increased line of merchandise and top rated customer service. Every fan of Team USA enjoys a complete shopping experience featuring $4.99 flat rate, 3-day shipping and easy returns.

Brian Swallow, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TeamFanShop, said: “Our partnership with Team USA has proven to be a mutually successful endeavor and TeamFanShop anticipates even greater results during the coming years.

“The 2012 London Olympic Games are right around the corner and Team USA fans are going to want merchandise quickly and efficiently. With TeamUSA merchandise by Polo Ralph Lauren, relationships with all major licensees, including Nike, the official outfitter for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and the largest assortment of officially licensed USOC gear found anywhere, TeamFanShop is ready to meet the needs of Team USA supporters everywhere.”

Exotics Racing and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) have agreed to a multi-year agreement to keep the exotic car driving experience at LVMS well into the future.

The agreement will allow Exotics Racing to continue its expanding operation which offers a unique experience where guests can drive today’s most exciting supercars at the speeds for which they are designed. The only requirements are that guests must possess a valid driver’s license and be at least 18 years old.

By implementing real-time, right-seat coaching, students have the ability to push the limits of performance in a safe and exciting environment. The mission at Exotics Racing is to ensure all clients experience the latest models from such well-known names as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi, as well as the Nissan GT-R at a low and reasonable price point. In order to keep up with the demand, Exotics Racing has expanded its fleet of cars from six to more than 20 in the past two years.

David Perisset, president of Exotics Racing, said: “We have had tremendous success since we began operating at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in late 2009. We have had more than 30,000 drivers come through in the two years we have been here, so we are really excited to know that we will be here for many years to come.”

The speedway, which hosts more than 1,400 event days per year, including the annual March NASCAR weekend and two NHRA national events, is the country’s most diverse motorsports facility.

LVMS president Chris Powell, said: “Exotics Racing has become one of our best partners. They’ve certainly opened up the speedway to a new customer, and we look forward to a long relationship.”

Originally founded in Europe in 2004, Exotics Racing has been operating in Las Vegas since 2009. Accessible to all, the racing school offers individuals the opportunity to drive today’s most amazing supercars with professional racing instruction on a real race track.

AMA Pro Racing and MotoBatt have announced an exclusive multiyear agreement for MotoBatt Batteries, LTD to become the Official Battery, Charger and Tester of AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track.

The agreement allows for MotoBatt to be an exclusive partner of AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track and to have in-market and promotional rights to utilize the series marks at the racetrack, in retail outlets and in related media.

As part of this agreement, MotoBatt will also become a contingency partner for the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike and AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Expert divisions. The MotoBatt Hard Charger Award will recognize the rider who charges through the field by gaining the most positions from their starting position in race finals.

David Atlas, COO of AMA Pro Racing, said: “We’re excited to begin a partnership with a company that is focused on providing quality products to the motorcycle community. Their support of AMA Pro riders through the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award shows that they embrace our commitment to rewarding the paddock. We are looking forward to expanding our mutual reach in the marketplace over the coming years.”

Smokey White, Director of Sales and Marketing for MotoBatt, added: “Riding on the heels of our first and very successful official sales year in North America, we are having a hard time holding back our enthusiasm about this new partnership for the start of the 2012 season. AMA Pro and MotoBatt share a lot of the same ‘DNA’ in that we both offer a premium product exclusively to the PowerSports enthusiast. We look forward to working in partnership with AMA Pro Racing to further grow our sales and continue to develop the MotoBatt Brand and our very unique and innovative product within this fun and exciting marketplace.”

Now in North and Central America, MotoBatt Batteries, LTD. is a premium AGM PowerSports Battery manufacturer. Having patented and launched MotoBatt with QuadFlexTM Technology, the markets most innovative PowerSports battery design outside of the US less than three years ago, MotoBatt is now the #1 brand in Australia and New Zealand and is also selling well in Europe, South America and other parts of the world. Learn more about MotoBatt Batteries, Chargers and Testers at www.motobatt.com.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

Following last weeks title sponsorship deal with Saxo Bank, Riis Cycling has announced a partnership with Jan Nygaard AS, BMW and MINI dealer,

This new partnership and cooperation means that Team Saxo Bank will be driving BMW automobiles in the coming three years.

Jan Nygaard, CEO of Nygaard AS, said: “Being a sponsor only operating in Denmark, means that we, on top of the obvious,  fantastic commercial potentials, have been very focused on Riis Cycling as a company. The core values of Riis Cycling and their social involvement here in Denmark has actually been equally important for us in our decision making process.

“Bjarne Riis and I meet during the press announcement of the new Fight against Cancer campaign “TRÆD TIL”, where we are both ambassadors. Bjarne also supports Denmark’s youth and supports the work of bringing new talents into Danish cycling. These examples of who Bjarne Riis also is, are rarely mentioned, but are extremely important for us. During a short but also intensive period, we have got to know Bjarne Riis, his company and the staff as extremely passionate, friendly and focused. That all together has convinced us, that the partnership will be able to create mutual advantages.

“We are very proud to be presented as partner today, hopefully contributing positively to the team, who we also see as a national pride – which in the future hopefully will create many exiting hours of entertainment to us all. We feel absolute sure that the BMW cars provided to the team by Jan Nygaard AS will more than exceed the expectations for comfort, quality and safety. Furthermore the environmental superiority of the cars will contribute to the strong profile of Team Saxo Bank.”

Owner of Team Saxo Bank, Bjarne Riis, added: “I am extremely happy with this new partnership. The match between us is obvious, as we share some of the same values. So I have great expectations and look forward to the coming three years with Jan Nygaard AS on board, and I am convinced, we will both benefit a lot from this cooperation.”

“When driving BMW we are guaranteed both the comfort and spaciousness, not to mention the quality standard and reliability that is crucial for us when at races. On top of that the driver’s safety is top notch, and this is of great importance as my employees spend countless hours in the cars throughout the year. Last but not least, it makes me proud that our BMW fleet will make sure we are at the very forefront of driving green and environmentally friendly.”

Sailing’s America’s Cup have secured four new relationships to join the America’s Cup family.

Official suppliers Starwood Hotels & Resorts; PricewaterhouseCoopers; The Napa Valley Vintners and The Napa Valley Destination Council; and Althelia Ecosphere were announced, joining current partner Louis Vuitton and official suppliers Hanson Bridgett, YouTube, Garmin, Puma and Sailors for the Sea.

Craig Thompson, CEO, America’s Cup Event Authority: “The new-look America’s Cup is about transforming the sport of sailing and the way people experience it, so we want partners who not only understand our long-term vision, but have an approach that is similar to ours, focused on forward-thinking innovation, leading-edge technology and embedded sustainability practices.”

The brand new AC World Series is a professional circuit designed to bring the America’s Cup experience to port cities throughout the world. But more than that, it represents a radical shift in the way sailing will be viewed and understood by audiences globally. Featuring breakthrough graphics, athlete’s view cameras and onboard microphones, the new format builds upon the Cup’s rich history of innovation and continues to take the sport forward by putting the spectator at the heart of the action.

Connecting fans to the action is also part of the comprehensive broadcast strategy focused on tailoring the viewer’s experience through both traditional and non-traditional broadcast outlets.

Every minute of the live action is available on the dedicated America’s Cup YouTube channel – livestreamed and on demand – with a choice of commentary for either English-speaking or French audiences, as well as multi-screen player with four different camera angles so viewers can choose the action they want to view.

Additionally, more than 170 territories through 30 broadcasters are featuring America’s Cup programming, including live, highlights shows and the official magazine program, America’s Cup Uncovered.

The newest partner who will be showcasing live coverage of the big Sunday fleet race is Orbit Showtime Network reaching 24 countries in the Middle East on November 20. Once again, TVNZ will carry live action of the nine spectacular AC45 catamarans (November 21st in New Zealand), with Viasat Sport in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Baltics; SuperSport in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; and on SkySports.com in the UK. New for San Diego, Canal+ will cover the racing live for French followers, while Comcast Sports Net Bay Area and California will cover in the United States.

Read iSportconnect’s exclusive interview with Richard Worth, Chairman of the Americas Cup

Visit iSportconnect’s newly-launched sailing sub community