West Ham United could be looking for a new kit sponsor, if XL enter receivership. The charter airline company pays £2.5million a season to the club, for a three-year deal that was signed last year.

The sponsorship deal, which has clauses linked to the team’s success, is broadly similar to many undertaken in the Barclays Premier League.

XL has their name on the front of the shirts and their logo emblazoned on the roof of one of the stands at Upton Park, the club’s home ground. The sponsors are also given a hospitality box at the ground to entertain clients.

Usually, the sponsor will pay their fee in tranches over the season, in this case, XL have probably paid a third of their £2.5million already. West Ham are unlikely to be affected greatly.

First, the sum is relatively small in their overall budget. Secondly, they are likely to be able to attract a new sponsor, even if these difficult times.

Charlton Athletic faced a similar situation when all:sports went into administration three years ago. Soon after, they signed a more lucrative deal with Llanera SL, a Spanish property company.

XL endeavoured to attract aspirational West Ham supporters, many of whom come from Essex, to take cheap holidays. The deals were advertised in the match-day programme and the club’s website.