Manchester United's Next Shirt Sponsor Can Be An Indian Company

For the first time, Indian and Chinese companies are being talked about to be in the race for becoming Manchester United's next shirt sponsors after American insurance company AIG confirmed that it won't be renewing the partnership at the end of the current deal.Paddy Power is betting on which brand will win the race for one of the most coveted shirt deal in sport but while previous sponsorship betting offered by the bookie have been dominated by banks, airlines and car manufacturers the current economic climate has seen these industries fall by the wayside. Indian financial services company Sahara are the 9/4 favourites followed by betting by India's biggest multinational Tata at 6/1 and China Telecom at 8/1. Saudi Telecom, also said to have been sounded out, are 10/1. While United executives are said to be courting Indian and Asian corporations, global superbrands Pepsi and McDonalds are also in the running at 16/1 and 18/1 respectively. The Abu Dhabi United Group, owners of rivals Manchester City, are 33/1 although should David Gill et al be dead set on an Indian connection the Bombay Bicycle Club are 500/1 outsiders.Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: "The Manchester United shirt is one of the most coveted in sport and potential sponsors will no doubt be queuing up for the association rights, it should prove a fascinating race."Bookmakers seem to be having different views regarding the final winner of the is deal. Meanwhile Victor Chandler have opened a book on the nationality of the new shirt sponsors and make China the 2/1 favourite, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 7/2. "There'll be a lot of companies interested in investing in one of the premier football brands, but we suspect the Chinese will be major players in the process," said VC spokesman Neal Wilkins. "There's always the possibility that Dubai might be interested purely to get one over on Abu Dhabi, who'll probably be blazoned over Man City's shirts!" The United Kingdom is third favourite at 9/2, with the US in at 6/1.According to this the Indian companies are no where in the race.Manchester United officials are hopeful of securing a better deal even in the time of recession.Drew Barrand, of Sport Industry Group, said: "United are worth so much as a brand that the normal rules don't really apply. They hold all the aces in this situation. Their brand is so valuable that they will have no problems replacing AIG and could even receive compensation if they decide to end the sponsorship deal early. "They will look to the emerging markets where there is a strong attachment to the Premier League and plenty of companies who would love the prestige of being United's sponsors." A club spokesman said: "Even in the current climate companies have to advertise and AIG would testify to how helpful sponsoring Manchester United is to raising a company's profile. "We would hope the next arrangement would be at an even higher level than the previous one."