Llambias Confident Of Derby-Day Boost

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Managing Director Derek Llambias is confident that the St. James' Park name will be back in place at Newcastle United's stadium in time for the Tyne-Wear derby later this month.

On Tuesday, the Magpies signed a new four-year deal with wonga.com to make the digital finance company their lead commercial sponsor.

Wonga will sponsor the team shirt from the start of the 2013/14 season and invest at least £1.5m in two of the Club's most important projects - the Academy and the Newcastle United Foundation Enterprise Scheme.

But in a significant additional deal, they also took on the naming rights for the stadium with immediate effect and promptly reverted it to St. James' Park.

Newcastle's next fixture is on Sunday, 21st October, away at local rivals Sunderland, and Llambias hopes everything will be in place to give the team and supporters a boost ahead of the derby.

"Wonga are sponsoring our shirt (from the start of the 2013/14 season) and they are taking on the (stadium) naming rights as well," explained the Managing Director to nufcTV.

"But with the naming rights, they will be renaming the stadium St. James' Park. It will be back to St. James' Park by the Sunderland away game and I'm absolutely delighted for all our fans.

"It means a lot to our fans and the North-East, for sure.

"It was also a big decision on Wonga's part. They paid a lot of money for that and have given it back to the fans and the community, so it's a big step and shows their commitment to our long-term plans.

"This is the biggest commercial deal in our history, and that will hopefully find us another player on that pitch.

"Part of the deal was also for Wonga to invest in the Academy and also the community along with our Foundation. They are very pro-active partners, and I'm really looking forward to working with them."

To watch the full nufcTV interview with Derek Llambias, click here