Shaelumstash
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 30 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 8,254
Well, some bright spark at the top not only negotiated that deal, but it was also signed off by another bright spark right at the top of the food chain at City.
All under the knowledge and understanding of what many of our rivals were getting for their kit deals.
No, we will never know what went on during those negotiations with Nike, or the small print details, but it's safe to say that even with our recent success and worldwide exposure, somebody dropped a bollock negotiating our current kit deal.
Pretty sure we signed a 10 year £6m a year deal with Umbro just before the takeover. It might have been just after, maybe someone could confirm the exact dates?
But whenever it was, we weren't nearly as great a prospect as we are now.
After 4 years Nike sold Umbro and took over the City contract. The deal was doubled to £12m a year. So whoever at the club renegotiated that contract did a pretty good job I reckon at the time to improve the existing terms.
As with the Etihad deal, the Nike deal now looks grossly undervalued. But I think that's the problem with these 10 year deals, the rate of growth we're going through, the club will be unrecognisable in 10 years time.