EPL side West Brom is in talks with some leading Indian companies after its current sponsor, London-based property company Zoopla, "decided to pull the plug in the wake of striker Nicolas Anelka's controversial racism-linked goal celebration in an EPL match," according to the PTI. West Brom Sales & Marketing Dir Adrian Wright said that he would meet some top corporates in India "for a possible deal for the main sponsor of the club." Wright: "We are going to meet some top corporate houses in India which have shown interest in becoming a sponsor. It's in a preliminary stage but if an Indian company becomes our sponsor it would be a great development for us." Companies West Brom is going to meet include "Airtel, Reliance, Tata and JCB and the meetings have been arranged through the FICCI and CII." A meeting with Reliance company "assumes significance" as West Brom is reportedly interested in buying a franchise of the Indian Super League proposed to be organized by IMG-Reliance in September. West Brom may be interested in having an Indian company as a main sponsor "as it has a large Asian population in its surroundings." West Brom is located just a few kilometers from Birmingham, which is one of Britain's most Asian-populated cities (PTI, 1/21).
