Car manufacturer Vauxhall will end a seven-year sponsorship deal with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when its current agreement expires after the 2018 World Cup, according to Mark Mann-Bryans of the PA. Vauxhall has been "the leading partner" of the Home Nations since '11, but said in a statement that "all four links will be severed next year." The brand said in the statement that it had "agreed to explore other opportunities to continue its relationship with the FAs beyond the conclusion of the existing contracts." The four respective FAs "are now expected to be tasked with securing additional sponsorship from next summer" to add to the other commercial deals currently in place. The FA said in a statement that it is working on a "lower-level" partnership with Vauxhall for after the 2018 World Cup (PA, 3/29). In London, Jason Burt reported the move comes as "something of a surprise" although the FA, which recently negotiated "lucrative" new TV deals and a new contract with kit supplier Nike, "will regard it as an opportunity for an improved agreement with a new partner." The GM-owned company's sponsorship covers the England senior men's team, the U21 team, the women's team, all the youth teams and the England disability sides. Vauxhaull branding "was highly visible on all the England training kit and advertising hoardings" (TELEGRAPH, 3/29). In London, James Olley reported Vauxhall was "thought to have paid" the FA in the region of £5M ($6.2M) per year for a "prominent role in media activities," which included staging the official 2014 World Cup squad announcement at its HQ in Luton (EVENING STANDARD, 3/29).