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BANGKOK: Thailand's largest brewer may end its association with English football club Everton at the end of a one-year sponsorship deal if they play badly, and instead link up with cross-city rivals Liverpool, a spokesman said yesterday.

Thai Beverages, producers of the kingdom's best-selling Chang Beer, signed a ?1.5mil (US$2.8mil) sponsorship deal last month with Everton that sees the beer's logo emblazoned on the team's jerseys.

But a spokesman for the brewer said the deal may not be extended, particularly if Liverpool wants to replace its current sponsor, Danish beer giant Carlsberg which has broken off a joint venture with the Thai company.

“We have an agreement for one year, and its future depends on Everton's performance,” Thai Beverages spokesman Thanit Thamsukati told AFP.

“But there are reports that Liverpool sponsorship by Carlsberg will be over next season so there is a chance they might call for new bidding for a sponsor on their team jersey,” he added.

“We may put forward a bid, but we have to study things carefully before we make any move.”

Everton, featuring Chang Beer's logo of twin elephants on their jerseys (chang means elephant in Thai), suffered a 4-1 drubbing on Sunday by Arsenal in their season opener.

Thai Beverages' Everton deal came after a failed earlier sponsorship bid to link up with Liverpool.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched a bid to buy a 30 percent stake in Liverpool this year only to retreat after an uproar over his plans to use public funds.

A private Thai consortium has taken over negotiations for the buy-in but little progress has been reported.

Thanit has said Thai Beverages was interested in sponsoring Liverpool regardless of a Thai financial interest in the club and dismissed suggestions his firm was seeking to squeeze Carlsberg, its partner-turned-rival, out of English football.

The brewery's sponsorship “is just to introduce Chang Beer to the people of the UK”, and to the millions of avid football followers in Asia where English club football is broadcast live, he said. – AFP



23 August, 2004