Manchester United have announced a seven-figure sponsorship deal with leading computer accessory manufacturer Epson.
United confirmed the three-year contract, confirming Epson as their official office equipment partner.
It is the latest in a succession of such deals as the Red Devils commercial staff have pursued a policy of bringing in global partners to maximise the value of the United brand.
''This partnership will help Manchester United stay at the top of English and world football,'' said chief executive David Gill, who was at the announcement along with Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad for the Premier League encounter with Blackburn.
Rumours had circulated last week Epson were actually on the brink of buying United, speculation Gill was happy to refute.
''Social media networks may make it easier to stay in touch with our fans but they don't get it right all the time,'' he laughed.
The deal extends an association with sport by Epson that began in 1964 when they provided the timing devices for the Tokyo Olympics.
By ESPNsoccernet staff
So that explains how Glazers can pay off 220m of PIK debts.
The highest it can go will be 9.9 million
They stilll need to cough up 200.1 million
It doesn't really matters how much as long as there are sponsors, it adds to their yearly revenue which is still a good thing... The club doesn't have a very rich owner so they have to be self-generating which is going to be very important in the next 2, 3 yrs with Uefa new rules coming into play...
So all these extra few millions will be helpful be it Nike, AON, Audi, Turkish Airlines, Thomas Cook, Singha Beer, Saudi Telecommunications, Hublot watches, Concha Y Toro wine and etc... The addition of Epson would be another source of income that is good for the club...