WHILE news that Bolton Wanderers Football ground will be renamed the University of Bolton Stadium may have been the topic of conversation in the town and beyond, changes to the home of the Whites will not be seen for a while.

The football club revealed yesterday it had struck a mutually beneficial deal with the university, making it the club's new official "stadium naming rights partner" from immediate effect.

The announcement brought to end a sponsorship deal struck with Italian sportswear company, Macron in 2014

But the stadium's new branding will not be in place for the start of the new football season, as a final design aimed at giving the university maximum coverage on the national and international stage is drawn up.

University bosses say that a logistical delay will be inevitable between the Macron sign coming down to the new university sign being put up — with supporters not seeing the complete transformation of the stadium for several weeks.

The branding and signage is set to be replaced systematically over the coming weeks. Seating, which currently bears the name Macron will also be replaced, once it is convenient to do so.

Once in place the university sign will be visible by visitors entering the ground and within the stadium.

The  announcement-was greeted with welcome surprise from people The Bolton News spoke to.

Some said it would benefit both sides, with students benefitting from the stadium facilities to players using the modern equipment at the university.

But the biggest problem according to the Whites' fans is getting used to its new name University of Bolton stadium, when they hadn't got in the habit of calling it the Macron, with one saying " I know I shouldn’t say it but we always call it the Reebok."