Blackburn Rovers have agreed a new £4 million kit deal with uhlsport to run for the next four years when their contract with Asics runs out in summer.

From June, uhlsport will become the exclusive equipment supplier to Rovers, with new team strips for next season, developed by the company and Ewood boss Roy Hodgson.

Rovers chief executive John Williams welcomed the new deal which has been under negotiation for some time.

And he stressed the club had been determined to make what they felt was the right choice.

He said: "We are delighted to be going ahead into the new millennium with uhlsport who convinced us of their ability, professionalism and appetite for the deal.

"Kit sponsorship represents one of the major opportunities for incremental revenue "

"It's also about image.

"There is obviously a major interface with the football staff and our supporters through merchandising.

"It is therefore important to get it right."

The company already sponsor Rovers and England keeper Tim Flowers.

They are associated with top clubs such as Inter Milan, Hamburg, Auxerre, Lazio and Gothenburg and players like Sol Campbell, Jose Luis Chilavert, Luca Marchegiani and Bodo Illgner.

Company president Klaus Uhl said: This is one of the most significant commercial agrements that uhlsport has concluded since we first undertook the sponsorship of Inter Milan in 1991.

"English Premiership football, for its passion, crowd-pleasing appeal and skill is now seen and respected throughout the world.

"Mr Walker and his colleagues have made Blackburn Rovers into a major footballing force and I look forward to uhlsport being part of a successful partnership as we enter the next century."

Uhlsport, a privately-owned multi-national company, is the world's only major brand devoted exclusively to football.

This year it is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the company's products are marketed in over 100 countries.

Uhlsport is also the fastest-growing football brand in the UK. In just four years, domestic sales have grown by 150 per cent.

There do not seem to be any developments on the transfer front, with Roy Hodgson seemingly having now written off Pierluigi Casiraghi or Hernan Crespo as possibilities.

But he is not too concerned.

"I don't see that we are desperately weak anywhere, other than the fact that until Dahlin gets fit again we don't have a senior striker to cover Gallacher and Sutton," he said.

"But Dahlin is rapidly approaching match fitness."

"Hopefully, if he gets through the reserve team game next week, and does another good week's training, I'll soon be able to consider him as a potential first team player again."

Alan Fettis has been named in the Northern Ireland B squad to face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday week.

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