ManU's new kit contract "has led to serious repercussions for Andy
Murray, the England cricket team and rugby’s British and Irish Lions," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. All three "have lost backing from adidas" because of its £750M investment in supplying ManU shirts from next season. Adidas
was not prepared to renew its shirt agreement with Murray "because of
the increased cost, while the England cricket partnership has been
greatly downgraded and might end early." And the German company has
announced that it will be ending its 18-year association with the Lions -- "despite replica shirts selling so well." The massive price of winning the ManU deal from arch-rivals Nike has meant adidas has "had to re-evaluate the importance of other properties," with its funding focused on the core activities of football, fitness and running. American firm Under Armour, with whom Murray signed when adidas did not meet his numbers, is also a favorite "to take over the Lions contract for the next tour to New Zealand in 2017" (DAILY MAIL, 2/8).
