VODAFONE DUMP UNITED

Last updated : 23 November 2005 By Editor

LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Mobile phone giant Vodafone Group Plc is ending a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with soccer club Manchester United, which is worth about 9.0 million pounds ($15.5 million) per year.

The world's largest mobile phone company by revenue and the Premier League soccer club said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the deal, which only began last season, would be terminated at the end of the 2005/2006 season.

“Initial soundings and discussions with a number of world class potential partners have been very encouraging and we are confident of securing a new deal in the coming months,” Manchester United said in a separate statement.

Mag readers will remember this was hinted at in BackBeat last issue.