The Hut Group has pulled out of a proposed training kit sponsorship deal with Manchester United worth £200m over 10 years after the retail giant expressed concerns it could be boycotted by fans protesting at the club's owners.
United’s group managing director Richard Arnold was told on Friday, May 7, that the Manchester-headquartered group would not go ahead with the contract which was due to start on July 1, the Observer has reported.
The Hut Group's Cheshire-based Myprotein brand was due to appear on United’s training kit and replace AON, sponsors of the club’s Carrington training centre.
The move came after a fans protect against the Glazers outside Old Trafford led to United’s game with Liverpool being postponed.
AON’s long-running agreement is due to expire on June 30.
Both THG and United declined to comment, with those familiar with the deal at Old Trafford confirming there are no ongoing talks, the Observer added.
The collapse of the deal comes after the executive co-chairman of Manchester United Joel Glazer pledged to increase investment in Old Trafford and the club's training ground in the wake of the fall out over the proposed European Super League.
In an open letter to United's Fans' Forum, Mr Glazer also promised "to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term".
Mr Glazer said he would personally meet the forum as soon as possible after the end of the season.
He reiterated his apology "for the mistakes that were made" when United agreed to join 11 other European clubs in backing the new competition, before withdrawing their support.
E-commerce giant The Hut Group recently confirmed that its revenue surged to more than £1.6bn during its latest financial year in what was called a "milestone" period for the firm, which also saw it rack up losses of more than £500m.
The giant is one of the world's largest beauty and wellbeing businesses and last year raised £1.88bn in a huge UK flotation as it began trading on the London Stock Exchange. It was valued at £6.8bn at the end of 2020.
