All change in big new deal

May 2 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

THE Blues are on the verge of sealing a lucrative stadium and shirt sponsorship deal worth in the region of half a million pounds.

Club owner Stephen Vaughan is financing the deals through one of his own companies, Cestrian Trading.

The Deva Stadium will be renamed the Cestrian Stadium once the five-year sponsorship agreement for the Bumpers Lane ground is finalised. Cestrian Trading will also sponsor the club’s shirts in a two-year package, taking over from UK Sameday, who announced earlier this week that they were ending their three-year association with the club.

Vaughan said: “Everything is close to being signed and these are exciting deals for the club.

“The deals will be worth about half a million pounds to the club over the period of a few years.”

UK Sameday announced they would not be sponsoring the club next season on Wednesday.

The Sandycroft-based express delivery firm has been a high-profile supporter of City in recent seasons and managing director Paul Baker is a lifelong Chester fan.

It is understood that Mr Baker’s relationship with Vaughan has soured over recent months, leading to UK Sameday pulling their sponsorship.

Mr Baker said: “I wanted our sponsorship of the club to be diverse and I am proud that we have been able to do that.

“Inevitably I will be asked why we have not continued our sponsorship. Unfortunately I would have loved for it to continue into next season and beyond, but circumstances have dictated that we must terminate it at the end of the season.

“I would like to thank Chester City FC for their hospitality over the last three seasons and wish them all the very best for the future.”

UK Sameday were behind this season’s offer to give away a free item of merchandise to season ticket holders, while they have also sponsored City’s training ground facility at Sealand, the shirts for the centre of excellence teams and Dee 106.3’s live away match coverage.

The firm’s name will be worn on the shirts of the first team for the last time tomorrow.