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Everton have confirmed that their long-standing shirt sponsorship deal with Chang will end this summer but the club will maintain their links with the Thai beverage company through a three-year community partnership agreement.

Chang are the club’s longest-running shirt sponsors having had their logo emblazoned across the Blues playing kit for 13 years since 2004.

New deals were struck with Everton in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2014 but from next season the Blues will have a new company’s name adorning their jerseys, SportPesa, as revealed exclusively in the ECHO .

(Image: Mark Robinson/Getty Images)

The Kenyan-based betting firm, who currently sponsor Hull City, bill themselves as ‘Africa’s leading Gaming Platform’ will also move their European headquarters to the Royal Liver Building on the city’s waterfront which recently purchased by Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.

Regarding the new arrangement with Chang, an Everton statement said: “The community partnership will commence from 1 June 2017 and will follow on from the conclusion of the existing Main Partner agreement.

“The agreement will see the continuation of the friendship between the club and Chang through a series of community programmes and initiatives in both Thailand and Merseyside.

“Activities will include will football coaching trips to and from Thailand and further development of the Chang Junior Cup; a national junior competition to assist grassroots development for Thai players and coaches.

“The partnership will also continue to support the work of the Thaibev Academy in Bangkok in developing young footballing talent in Thailand.”

Everton’s first shirt sponsorship deal was with Danish meat manufacturers Hafnia in 1979 but they switched to Japanese electronics firm NEC in 1985 in an association that lasted for a decade, culminating in the 1995 FA Cup final – the Blues last major trophy to date.

After that they had US photocopying company Danka for two years but moved to mobile phone network One2One in 1997. That association lasted five seasons before a two-year stint with Chinese electronics manufacturers Keijan between 2002-04.

On the links with Chang, Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said: “The enduring success of our partnership with Chang is based on a set of shared values and a deep and genuine friendship between the two organisations.

“I’m really pleased that we will be continuing to work together with a clearly defined focus on community – something which is incredibly important to both organisations.

“I would like to thank Chang for everything they have done for Everton over the last 13 years and for the commitment they have now made to support the communities both in Thailand and Merseyside.”

Everton and Chang worked in close partnership to help victims of the Boxing Day tsunami which affected Thailand and many parts of the Pacific region and Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, president and chief executive of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited added: “Chang’s long-standing partnership with Everton, which began in 2004, has always been based on a shared passion for great football, and a common desire to serve the wider community.

“To now have our friendship develop further, with a much sharper focus on the community, is indeed very heartening for everyone.”