League Championship Leeds United has agreed to a “strategic partnership” with the NFL San Francisco 49ers, according to James McMath of the LONDON TIMES. The arrangement will see a delegation from the 49ers visit Leeds to "discuss matters including ticketing, sponsorship and merchandising." Leeds Chair Salah Nooruddin said, "The 49ers are market leaders in many respects, and they are excited to be working with us as we are with them. We have been talking with the 49ers for a good while now, and see this as an exciting opportunity for both of us" (LONDON TIMES, 1/11). In London, Luke Edwards reported Leeds "have been the subject of a management buyout this week" thanks to a consortium fronted by Managing Dir David Haigh and club sponsor Enterprise Insurance CEO Andrew Flowers, taking a 75% controlling stake in the business. However, the club is "also looking to expand commercially and have entered into a partnership with the one of American sport’s most successful franchises in order to do so." The 49ers will go to Yorkshire to "advise them on ways to improve their business." It is "not thought the York family that owns the American franchise are interested in investing any money in the Championship club at this stage" (TELEGRAPH, 1/10).
