Norridge FC’s commercial director Sam Jeffrey said the club would never sign a betting shirt sponsorship deal, adding that the club must be “nearly self-regulating” for transactions of that nature.
Instead, the club will sign a one-year sponsorship agreement with the Norfolk-based carmaker Lotus Cars.
The club’s latest home kit featuring Lotus was released at the end of last month.
Jeffrey emphasized that the club needs to “evaluate every opportunity” of sponsorship, but he strictly excluded future betting transactions.
“There were some [sponsorship] Opportunities, especially in the area of betting, “said Jeffrey. “These opportunities have resulted in higher partnership fees, as in industries such as betting.”
“But we believe it’s almost time to self-regulate when it comes to betting on the front of the shirt, as a board and club-wide decision.”
“So, certainly in a club of the current structure, we will never have a betting brand in front of a shirt.”
Jeffrey doubled the club’s purpose of self-regulation, saying:
“We were always interested in working with Lotus, and weighed it against important betting offers. We believe it’s the right time to self-regulate.” He continued.
“There was a commercial decision. Betting on the front of the shirt will make you more profitable. It will be in the hundreds of thousands in the championship and almost certainly in the millions in the Premier League.”
“But that doesn’t outweigh the potential loss of income from having a betting sponsor.”
Jeffrey’s answer will precede the upcoming Premier League shareholders’ meeting, where a voluntary ban on company sponsorship betting will be discussed, according to sources told the Times.
Yesterday, Big Step urged Premier League clubs to vote against betting football sponsorship during the meeting.
The news was published as part of the long-awaited 2005 Gambling Act Review White Paper in the context of widespread discussions in the UK on potential limits in the gambling sector.
The ban on soccer gambling sponsorship is rumored to appear in the document.
The white paper has been postponed many times, but has recently been postponed again as part of Boris Johnson’s resignation.
