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United sponsor fury

03/04/2006

Manchester United have been accused of 'double-dealing' after they pulled out of sponsorship talks with online betting company Mansion.

The gambling firm were furious after a £70 million deal fell apart during negotiations over a shirt sponsorship agreement.

David Kinsman, chief negotiator for Mansion, said that the two sides had reached a verbal agreement and believed the deal to be done before United pulled out yesterday.

Kinsman explained that Mansion were "flabbergasted" at the club’s
behaviour. He said: "It was something of a surprise to be told last night that United had been negotiating with someone else.

"During the negotiating process we had no idea this kind of double dealing was going on. Manchester United have not acted as we expected them to."

United did not deny that they had been negotiating with other companies but claimed that it was standard practice.

The club released a statement which read: "We would understand why anybody would be disappointed at not securing the shirt sponsorship deal for Manchester United.

"We have not and do not enter into periods of exclusive negotiation and every party we have discussed the shirt sponsorship with are aware of that."

Vodafone announced last year that it did not intend to continue sponsoring Manchester United after the end of the season.

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