Betting companies keep club's sponsorship coffers full

The emergence of betting companies has saved the English Premier League shirt sponsorship industry from a second consecutive fall in value, according to an industry expert.

Andreas Ullmann, head of market intelligence at sports consultancy Sport+Markt, estimates that the value of shirt sponsorship deals in the Premier League fell from £69.2 million during the 2007-08 season to £68.2 million last season, after years of continuous growth.

He told the Financial Times that the value of shirt deals will increase slightly to £70 million for the 2009-10 season thanks to the emergence of new sponsors from the betting industry.

"Without [betting companies] many clubs would have serious problems," he said. "It has become a bit more of a buyer's market in the UK as we can see from the new deals that some teams have struck with online betting companies."

Read more:

Join the conversation on

Tribalfootball Store

England SS 2010Away Football Shirt Made By Umbro The England Away football kit for 2010 uses modern technology to give England Soccerstars Wayne Rooney, John Terry,Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard t

£6.99 Buy

Glasgow Celtic FC 11/12 Away SS Football Shirt Made By Nike Sponsor Tennents Key Players - Lee Naylor,Samaras,M Fortune Colour Emerald Grey/White Hoops

£24.99 Buy

France 2012/13 Home Authentic Players SS Football Shirt Made By Nike.

£89.99 Buy

adiPure IV TRX FG Football Boots. Made By Adidas Classic Boot Re Born.

£39.99 Buy

Adidas Predator X SG Champions League Football Boots Running White/Maccaw Green. Made by Adidas. Released for the 2010/11 Champions league campaign.

£49.99 Buy

Nike5 Bomba Astro Turf Trainers Made By Nike

£29.99 Buy

One of Mizuno

£81.99 Buy

New York Cosmos 2011/12 Core Cotton T-Shirt Made By Nike 100% Cotton T Shirt Cosmos 1971 Logo T Shirt Embroided Umbro Logo on Left Sleeve Colour White/Green/Navy

£7.99 Buy