The Real Thing (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

The Real Thing

SWINDON Town chief executive Mark Devlin admits the club are in something of a 'privileged position' with cash from both Coca-Cola and Nationwide fizzing into the County Ground over the next three years.

The Football League have announced that the soft drinks giant will take over the sponsorship of all three leagues below the Premiership from the Swindon-based building society next season.

The three-year agreement is reported to be the biggest deal in League history, beating the £4 million-a-year paid out by Nationwide.

All 72 clubs will benefit from the deal with Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney already promising that members will reap the rewards.

He said: "We share the revenue of the League with our clubs. As this is a significant deal they can look forward to receiving a little more from us next season than they have in the past.

"I also want to say how much we have appreciated the partnership with Nationwide which goes back eight years. I hope we can work with them again."

Despite Nationwide being replaced by Coca-Cola as league sponsors, Town will enjoy the best of both worlds.

Devlin said: "I suppose we are in a privileged position because we will continue to enjoy an excellent relationship with Nationwide, through their sponsorship of both the team and the Nationwide Stand, while hopefully benefiting from the new deal with Coca-Cola.

"We don't know yet to what tune we will benefit from the new sponsorship but it's a question I have already asked."

Devlin feels the deal is a positive reflection on life outside the Premiership.

He said: "I said in my programme notes for the Chesterfield game last week that I felt for too long we had allowed the Football League to be portrayed as the ugly sister of the Premiership.

"The fact is there is a level of passion, commitment and excitement here that you don't always see in the Premiership.

"While we will continue to enjoy our relationship with Nationwide, you have to also congratulate the Football League for gaining the support of another massive blue chip organisation."

Nationwide spokesman Chris Hull said the news in no way affected the company's continued commitment to Swindon Town.

He said: "We recently agreed a new three-year sponsorship deal with the club, great news for both parties.

"We have also had an extremely fruitful association with the Football League over eight seasons and the relationship has been mutually beneficial.

"We have been discussing opportunities regarding future sponsorship of the League but the League have decided to pursue other avenues.

"Given our intrinsic relationship with the game at all levels we are naturally disappointed but maintain our very close links with the game at all levels."

ALTHOUGH no pitch inspection is planned, Town fans are advised to check before travelling to Vale Park today. Port Vale can be contacted on 01782 655800.