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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Jonathan Humphries

New Balance not giving up fight over Liverpool kit contract as they bid to block Nike deal

New Balance has filed appeal papers in a final bid to lock Liverpool into a new kit deal.

Liverpool FC fought off a legal challenge from New Balance last week, following a three-day trial in the High Court, and are now free to sign a deal with Nike.

The club had been desperate to end its seven year partnership with the Boston based firm and go with Nike, after concluding the mega-brand could "super-charge" distribution of licensed products.

New Balance, rather than walk away when the existing deal ends in May, had filed a claim to the High Court claiming it had activated a matching clause in the existing contract, meaning Liverpool had to renew their partnership.

Read the inside story on Liverpool's kit battle with New Balance HERE

Liverpool, however, convinced judge Mr Justice Nigel Teare that Nike's offer of using "athletes and influences of the calibre of LeBron James, Serena Williams and Drake" had not been matched.

Liverpool are set to press ahead with the five year deal already agreed in principle with Nike - which has spent £6million on kit design.

New Balance applied for permission to appeal immediately after the judgment was handed down, and were refused by Judge Teare.

Their only route to having the judgment over-turned was to write directly to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal. 

The company has now filed the necessary paperwork and the decision rests with a Court of Appeal judge as to whether a full appeal hearing will go ahead.

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