Covers step down as Portsmouth's 'back of shirt' sponsor

Covers have stepped down as Pompey’s ‘back of shirt’ sponsor.
Covers have stepped down as Pompey's 'back of shirt' sponsorCovers have stepped down as Pompey's 'back of shirt' sponsor
Covers have stepped down as Pompey's 'back of shirt' sponsor

The timber and builders’ merchants have had their name on the Blues’ shirt for the past seven years.

The company, who have who depots in Gosport, Portsmouth and Chichester, have also been sponsoring Pompey for the past 25 years.

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Their decision comes just days after Blues chief executive Mark Catlin admitted the club are haemorrhaging £700,000 per month as the savage impact of the coronavirus crisis on the club is laid bare.

Those losses relate to the curtailed 2019-20 football season and the game going behind closed doors.

In their most recent accounts, match-day ticket sales and hospitality account for £7.44m of Pompey’s £11.5m annual turnover.

Confirming Covers’ departure in a club statement, Anna Mitchell – Pompey’s chief commercial officer – thanked the company for their support.

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She said: 'On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank Covers for their tremendous support over the years.

'They have been a committed partner of the club for a long time and we are extremely grateful for all their backing.

‘Covers have stuck with the club through good times and bad – and that level of loyalty is always appreciated.’

Steve Weston, sales director at Covers, added: ‘We have been sponsoring Pompey for more than 25 years now.

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‘A day after coming out of administration, we got a call saying the club were urgently looking for a “back of shirt” sponsor.

‘We said we wanted to help and have enjoyed every minute of that journey.

‘We would like to thank Portsmouth Football Club for that opportunity and wish them – and their wonderful supporters – every success for the new season.’

Any company wanting to be the Blues’ back of shirt sponsor are asked to email [email protected].

The University of Portsmouth remain Pompey’s main shirt sponsor.

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