FANS and community leaders will protest in Bolton town centre this afternoon after Bolton Wanderers revealed payday loan company QuickQuid as their new sponsor.

The firm will enter into a two-year deal with the club in what Whites chairman Phil Gartside said would be a partnership that “engaged with all elements of the football club and community”.

Wanderers’ current deal with 188BET is due to expire next month, and the QuickQuid logo will replace the 188BET logo on the club’s matchday and training kit.

Whites bosses refused to say how much the new deal was worth.

The announcement follows days of online speculation about a possible deal, and has immediately attracted some criticism from fans on moral grounds.

An MP who has campaigned against payday lenders has said she will come to Bolton today to join a protest over the sponsorship deal.

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy will join opponents outside Bolton Town Hall at 5pm.

She has been a vocal and active campaigner for increased regulation of payday loan companies.

The club has stressed QuickQuid would be supporting its community work as well as education and other sporting schemes, including working with Bolton Wanderers Community Trust to create a new employability certificate to help young people in years 10 and 11 improve their job prospects.

Whites bosses said the firm would also work closely with the trust to develop its active families and sports participation schemes, introduce new entertainment events for match days and support BWFC Juniors and family schemes, as well as supporting the club’s Friday night football and advanced coaching sessions.

Mr Gartside said: “We are excited to welcome QuickQuid as our new principal partner. “In our discussions it became obvious very quickly that both parties wanted to develop a partnership that engaged with all elements of the football club and community, and as much as anything else, to bring some real fun to matchdays.

“This is one of QuickQuid’s initial UK sports partnerships, and I am delighted that they have joined with us at Bolton Wanderers.

“Their energy and enthusiasm to help develop initiatives in collaboration with the community trust, and to support education and other sporting opportunities in and around Bolton has been extremely refreshing.

“And, of course, they are also very excited to be supporting Bolton Wanderers in what should be an enthralling push for success on the pitch over the next two seasons.”

Greg Hohnstein, head of partnerships at QuickQuid, said: “We are delighted to be working with Bolton Wanderers over the next two seasons — and possibly longer.

“We were immediately impressed by the evident passion of the club and its supporters.

“We are excited to be part of a strong partnership as it develops over this period to help bring success on the pitch, and positive results and opportunities in the wider community.”

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling has also added her voice to those opposing the deal.

She said: Julie said “It is a really sad day for Bolton Wanderers FC and the community of Bolton. “I fear the sponsorship deal will legitimise payday loan companies and the level of interest they charge really concerns me as these companies exploit the needy and less well off in society. Bolton Wanderers is a family club, with a proud history. I feel the club should actively re-think their sponsorship deal, despite the money involved.”