Hearts Announce Two-Year Wonga Shirt Sponsorship

Scottish Premier League soccer club Hearts has unveiled a two-year shirt sponsorship agreement with online short term loan company Wonga.com.

Starting from next season, the Wonga.com logo will appear on the front of the team’s home and away shirts, replacing current sponsors Ukio Bankas, the Lithuanian bank run by Hearts’ owner Vladimir Romanov.

Wonga.com is extending their sponsorship ties in British soccer having already signed a kit deal with English Premier League soccer team Blackpool FC and the FA Cup matches shown on ESPN.

Although no financial details of the contract have been released, it is believed to be the largest shirt sponsorship in Scottish soccer outside of the Old Firm teams of Rangers and Celtic. Wonga.com however, is likely to be paying Hearts slightly less than the US$1m it currently gives Blackpool FC.

Errol Damelin, chief executive of Wonga.com announced: “Hearts is a club with a great history and they are having a really strong season so we were very keen to support them when the opportunity came up. The club shows real class on and off the pitch and we’re excited about being involved from next season onwards.”

Gary Locke, first team coach of Hearts added: “I’m not sure if this adds money to the coffers and allows us to bring in one or two more players but I’m sure the manager and the owner will have that in hand. It’s a big deal for the club and shows we are moving in the right direction. It’s a great day and hopefully we can add to the success of this sponsorship deal by doing a job on the pitch.”