Reports this morning suggest that Town's first team may have a second sponsor alongside Greene King next season. It is thought, though by no means confirmed, that Greene King will remain Town's main sponsors, but should the Blues qualify for Europe another company may get to use the team as advertising hoardings.

All the club will say regarding Greene King is that negotiations are ongoing, Alesha Gooderham: "We are in the final stages of negotiations with a sponsor for next season."

But despite the appearance of odds on Town's new sponsor from a local bookie, the relationship with Greene King which started in 1995/96 looks set to continue.

With Town now a Premiership side the deal is likely to be much higher than the £1.5 million over three years that constituted the last arrangement.

Similarly-sized Charlton signed a £2.5 million deal last year and a new deal for Town would probably look at being somewhere around this level although probably higher given the greater stability of our Premiership status.

Greene King, however, may be less interested in sponsoring Town in Europe. They have less of a profile on the continent and another more global name may be on Town shirts should the European tour become a reality. Lazio are one club to have had different sponsors for domestic and European football.

The club are also hoping to attract a sponsor for the Academy. Greene King are unable to sponsor the youngsters due to Academy rules which prevent youngsters from advertising alcohol products. This season the Academy has had no shirt sponsor with arrangements in previous seasons with Broad Oak Farm and Taylor Barnard.

The agreements on sponsorship will be announced after then end of the season in May.

Amir Karic has been left out of the Slovenian squad for their internationals with Russia and Yugoslavia. The Slovenian is having a bad week after being sent back from his loan spell with Crystal Palace earlier this week.

Karic has not had an easy time since moving to Town. A number of disappointing performances for the reserves have left him a peripheral figure at Portman Road.

His first team exploits have so far numbered just three late sub appearances in the Worthington Cup. However, just prior to leaving for Palace he played probably his best two reserve games against Watford and Southampton.

His spell at Palace saw him fail to settle into their style and in his final game he was subbed after just 38 minutes. Palace fans suggested he was woefully short of match fitness and this could account for his failure to gain an international place.

The England squads are announced today with Richard Wright and Titus Bramble hoping for calls. Wright was included in the last full squad while Bramble was surprisingly omitted from the U21 squad which lost 4-0 at home to Spain.

Marcus Stewart was in the running for a place in the full squad for the Spain game, but as he was left out of that, and hasn't played since February 10th, a call is unlikely.

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