West Ham & Wmrt Seek Deals After Alpari Collapse

English Premier League football club West Ham United and sailing’s World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) have announced that they are both in talks with potential new sponsors following the recent collapse of their main sponsor Alpari (UK) Limited.

The currency broker shut its UK arm on Friday following the Swiss National Bank’s decision to end its capping of the Swiss franc against the euro.

Alpari (UK) Limited has been a partner of West Ham since 2011 and has been the club’s main shirt sponsor since February 2013. The deal, which is thought to be worth around £3m per season was due to last until the 2015/16 season.

A West Ham United statement read: “The Club would like to offer its sympathies to any Alpari staff affected by the announcement, particularly those that have worked closely with us over the past few years.

“The Board would like to reassure supporters that Alpari (UK) Limited’s situation will have no impact on West Ham United.

“The Club remains in a strong financial position and just last month published accounts showing record revenues and a group profit of £10.3million before tax.

“The Club has received huge interest and is already in advanced discussions with potential new shirt sponsors for next year.”

This isn’t the first time that West Ham would have been required to wear patches on their shirts after the club was forced to end their partnership with XL travel firm after they collapsed due to the Icelandic financial crisis in 2008. 

Alpari (UK) Limited has also been the title sponsor of the WMRT since 2012. The series said: “The World Match Racing Tour is continuing as scheduled, including the final event of the 2014 World Championship in Malaysia from 10th to 14th February.

“The Tour will shortly announce its 2015 calendar of events, including two new official stages.

“With over 250 sponsors involved across all Tour events worldwide, we have already received interest from potential global partners for the coming season.”