New deal tonic for Latics

LATICS insist there has been no contact from Blackburn Rovers regarding a move for Neal Eardley (pictured). Latics latest

ATHLETIC have eased their financial worries by concluding the club’s biggest ever sponsorship deal.

Sports retailer JD Sports are taking over as both kit manufacturers and sponsors on a combined three-year agreement, and one of their brands — Carbrini Sportswear — will be the new name on Athletic’s shirts.

JD Sports replace crisis-hit Hillstone Developments, who recently withdrew from the final season of their £250,000 deal.

It is the second link-up between the companies as JD Sports sponsored Athletic during the Premier League era of the 1990s.

The recent loss of two major sponsors — Hillstone Developments and Horners Motor Group — has been stretching resources at Boundary Park, but this is a welcome boost ahead of the new season.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “We are delighted to renew acquaintances with JD Sports after a successful period of sponsorship with them which saw their name on Latics shirts when we played Manchester United at Wembley in the 1994 FA Cup semi-finals.”

JD Sports was co-founded by John Wardle, who went on to become a major investor in Manchester City but now has no connection with the company or football club.

As JD Sports are taking over as kit manufacturers, there will be a slight change to the design of Athletic’s home kit.

Meanwhile, Athletic have rubbished speculation linking Neal Eardley with a move to Premier League side Blackburn.

Weekend reports claimed Rovers were bidding £3million for the teenage Wales international, but Mr Hardy insisted there had been no contact whatsoever. And he said the same applied to a supposed link between Plymouth Argyle and Chris Taylor.

Athletic handed a trial to former Blackpool, Gillingham and Sheffield Wednesday man John Hills when they played at Bradford on Saturday (match report on Page 22).

As the Chronicle revealed several weeks ago, the club had been in touch with Hills since he was released by Blackpool at the end of last season.

He is now free of injury and was given 45 minutes at left-back in Athletic’s 1-0 defeat, but no deal will be offered.

Manager John Sheridan said: “He’s an experienced player who has been training with Blackpool in pre-season, but I won’t be taking it any further.”