Sources inside the equipment industry said that Andy Murray's long-standing sponsorship deal with adidas "is unlikely to be renewed at the end of the season," according to Sim Briggs of the London TELEGRAPH. The Scottish player is going "in search of one last big kit deal to cover the final five years of his career." Murray's agents are "eyeing niche brands that would base their strategy around him -- and which might even offer him equity in the company." His deal with adidas ends in December, so Murray only has a month to strike a new deal. Murray's management company, 77, is still interested in the "tennis milieu." Nike "is unlikely to bite" as it does not allow its players to wear other advertising and Murray signed a three-year, £4.5M deal "to have Standard Life’s name branded on his right shoulder" just three months ago. And adidas "seems unwilling to raise its offer" as its new head, American Eric Liedtke, "is all too aware that tennis sales have been falling in the U.K. despite Murray’s endorsement" (TELEGRAPH, 9/30).
