Northern Rock will continue to sponsor Newcastle United

Jan 19 2010 by Adam Jupp, The Journal

NATIONALISED lender Northern Rock has revealed it will continue to sponsor Newcastle United’s shirts for the next four seasons.

The bank, currently under Government ownership, will pay the Magpies up to £10m as part of the arrangement, which was announced yesterday.

News of the deal – which relates to the so-called “good bank” part of the business which was split into two parts at the start of the year – has sparked concern in some quarters but senior Rock officials have insisted it represents good value for money for the taxpayer.

Announcing the contract, chief executive Gary Hoffman said: “I am pleased to confirm that the new bank has become the main sponsor of Newcastle United.

“There has been a long-standing relationship between Northern Rock and the club, which dates back to 2004, and it represents an important community link. Brand awareness and promotion are important elements in the continuing development of the company.

“However, we remain mindful of our responsibilities under Government ownership and only consider those advertising and promotion channels that deliver a high return on investment and good strategic fit.

“We believe that the sponsorship deal with Newcastle United provides both of these.

“The new contract will help keep the Northern Rock brand in the public eye and reinforce our strong roots in the North East region, a community we are immensely proud to support.”