United could be laughing all the way to bank even if shirt sponsors AIG go bust

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AIG, the biggest insurance company in the USA, is facing an uncertain future after their share value fell by 40% on the New York stock exchange.

United are privately confident that their record £56.5million shirt sponsorship deal will be unaffected by the turmoil - they have two years on the four-year deal left to run.

AIG Chief Executive Martin J.Sullivan (C) with Manchester United footballers (left to right) Ji-sung Park, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gary Neville following a press conference announcing the deal at Old Trafford in April 200

But Simon Chadwick, professor of sports business strategy at Coventry University, believes the club could even benefit if they have to find a new sponsor given that as Barclays Premier League and European champions their value is at an all-time high.

Chadwick said: 'Shirt sponsorship values appear to be holding their own well in the Premier League and also in Germany.

'It may be an issue outside the Premier League but my view is that if Manchester United do have to find a new sponsor, they would almost certainly pay as much and quite probably more.

'United are currently European champions and Premier League champions, so they
could not be in a better position.

'The issue for United would be finding the right sponsor with a global operation as a partner, to give the club global coverage, something AIG does perfectly at the moment.'

Chadwick believes West Ham are also well-placed to find a new shirt sponsor who
will match their income from XL Holidays, the company that went bust last week just one year into a £7.5million three-year deal with the Hammers.

He said: 'There will be some initial cost to West Ham as they have to find a new sponsor but in my view they are likely to find a partner who will pay as much.'