Virgin Money In Talks Over Newcastle United Shirt Sponsorship

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.