// Sports Direct branding on Newcastle United could be removed in a fortnight
// Current legal clauses mean the club’s new Saudi owners have not been able to remove the ads
// Newcastle United director Amanda Staveley is “looking forward to” the end of the ban
Newcastle United director Amanda Staveley has reportedly expressed hopes that the temporary ban on sponsorship deals with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct will end in a fortnight.
If the ban ends, the club will be able to replace the Sports Direct branding, which is something that Staveley is “looking forward to”.
Last month, Newcastle United was poised to remain with Ashley’s Sports Direct sponsor due to legal clauses put in before its £305 million sale.
READ MORE: Sports Direct unveils star-studded £6m Christmas campaign
The clauses mean the new Saudi owners have not been able to remove the ads.
The club earned a total of £2.2 million from the unpopular deals with Ashley’s retailer.
Staveley is part of an eight-club Premier League working group looking at permanent regulations around related-party sponsorship deals.
The deals would need to be pre-approved by the Premier League, under plans agreed in principle by the clubs.
The group will report back to other Premier League clubs in a fortnight and Staveley hopes it will mark the point when the club can start to sign new deals.
This would mean bringing down the Sports Direct signage.
Staveley said time is of the essence to sign new commercial deals, ITV News reported.
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