Exclusive:Sheffield Wednesday's new kit manufacturer revealed - Macron deal cancelled
A new era at Sheffield Wednesday will be ushered in with a new look.
Sheffield Wednesday will have a new kit manufacturer heading into next season, The Star understands.
The Owls head into the new League One campaign full of renewed hope after the takeover of the club by US consortium Arise Capital Partners. Feverish work is going on behind the scenes to prepare for a major rebuild on and off the field, with key hires being made in the form of CEO David Bruce and incoming sporting director Simon Wilson. A vast squad rebuild is to come and efforts to improve to the stadium are already underway.
Away from the football, business decisions are being made and one will be of particular interest to supporters. Social media has been awash with conversation about the club’s new kit manufacturers after Macron items were ominously removed from the club Megastore at the turn of the month. Though no deal is signed and sealed, The Star understands that the Owls will more than likely be harking back to its iconic late 80s / early 90s heyday with the return of Umbro. The news is expected to be popular among Wednesday supporters.
The Star reported last month that although their Macron deal still had a number of years to run, the nature of administration meant that the club effectively had the option to exit existing contracts - or to renegotiate them. That deal has been terminated.
It’s understood that the deal with Macron, initiated during Dejphon Chansiri’s time with the club in 2021, arrived on terms that were not especially favourable to the club in terms of an individual retail taking that informed the high price point paid by customers. The sweetener in the deal was a substantial sponsorship payment paid to the club. Wednesday entered administration owing Macron £1.3m, for which they will receive pence on the pound as unsecured creditors.
Wednesday wore Umbro kits initially in the 1970s before moving to Bukta. They returned in 1984 until 1993, straddling two promotions and the famous 1991 Rumbelows Cup win, which presented one of the most iconic shirts in the club’s history. From 1993 until 2001 Wednesday utilised Puma, before six years with Diadora and two seasons with Lotto from 2007 to 2009.
From 2009 until 2014 the Owls returned to Puma. Three seasons with Sondico followed, including their two Championship play-off campaigns. A period with Chansiri-owned manufacturer Elev8 followed from 2017, until the deal with Macron was struck in 2021.