NEW FEARS SHIRT CASH WILL BE CUT

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs face another financial blow amid fears the shirt sponsorship bubble has burst.

Sportsmail revealed yesterday how Liverpool agreed a delay to the start of their lucrative Nike kit deal so they can lift the trophy in their current New Balance kit. But now clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League are under threat of losing substantial income from sponsorship linked to their match-day and training kits as the coronavirus crisis continues. Manchester United’s deal with Chevrolet is worth £64million a year. Chelsea pocket in the region of £40m a season from their deal with communications firm Three, which kicks in next season. Arsenal’s sleeve deal with Visit Rwanda is worth £30m over three years. But there are growing concerns deals will be smaller as businesses cut spending. There is particular worry that betting companies — who sponsor more than half the Premier League clubs’ shirts — will have no option but to limit spending on marketing.

THE FA will examine claims Gareth Barry invested £800,000 in Swindon Town. In a UK High Court hearing, Swindon chairman Lee Power alleged West Brom’s Barry was behind the cash injection. Barry said categorically he had not invested but had lent the money to Michael Standing, who won his case that the £800,000 entitled him to 50 per cent of the holding company. DANNY DRINKWATER is back training at Aston Villa despite his bust-up with team-mate Jota. The on-loan Chelsea midfielder was sent home after allegedly head butting the Spaniard during training. But he has returned and relations with Jota are thought to be amicable.