THE deal that means Wanderers' new home will be known as The Reebok Stadium was described today as "the most lucrative stadium sponsorship" in football.

It cements a partnership between the town's football club and a company whose roots are in Bolton but is now a multi-national sportswear giant.

Full details of the value or the precise length of the contract have not been disclosed but it has been confirmed as a "multi-year, multi-million pound" deal.

The contract was signed this morning by Wanderers' chairman Gordon Hargreaves and Dave Singleton, Reebok vice-president for Northern Europe - a Bolton fan who said of the sponsorship: "Bolton is our local club. They are also a club with a great following and a great history.

"We will all remember the magic days at Burnden Park but now we should look forward to a tremendous future.

"The Reebok Stadium will be the envy of the country with superb facilities for the players, the fans and the community."

Mr Hargreaves, who has spearheaded the club's ambitious drive to become a Premiership force, has already celebrated promotion and the Division One Championship and later this month will see the club make its debut on the Stock Market - major events timed perfectly to coincide with the transfer from Burnden Park to the new £35 million super stadium at Horwich.

He said: "The club has had a memorable 102 years at Burnden but the years ahead could prove the most exciting.

"The deal with Reebok is perhaps the most lucrative stadium sponsorship to date and comes at a time of celebration in this great club's history.

"We could not have wished for a better end to our time at Burnden Park and it's fitting we should leave as Division One Champions.

Mr Hargreaves confirmed that Reebok was always the club's first choice for ground sponsor, explaining: "Over the years Reebok has demonstrated a commitment to the club that goes way beyond the usual sponsor-club relationship."

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