Nike
is ending a 13-year deal to manufacture Manchester United's football kit.
In a
statement, the American sportswear company said "the terms that were on
offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike's
shareholders".
It
is thought that either Germany's Adidas or Warrior will replace them.
Manchester
United did not qualify for this season's Champions League for the first time in
19 years.
The
club suffered its worst ever Premier League finish last season after manager
Sir Alex Ferguson left following 26 years in the job.
His
successor, David Moyes, lasted just
10 months and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal
takes over following the Netherlands' World Cup campaign.
Nike
first signed the deal with the club in 2002 and on Monday unveiled a new kit
for the 2014-15 season. It will be the last one bearing the Nike logo.
Nike
said: "Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans.
"Any
partnership with a club or federation has to be mutually beneficial and the
terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value
for Nike's shareholders.
"We
look forward to a successful final season with the club."
United's
existing deal with United States firm Nike is worth £24m a year. As part of
that agreement they were given a period of exclusivity to negotiate an
extension and also retained the right to match any other offer.
But
the company has decided against exercising either option.
A
figure of £600m over 10 years has been discussed with the remaining bidders,
which would dwarf the reported £31m a season Adidas pays to Real Madrid.
They
have signed a number of sponsorship deals, including an agreement to rename
their Carrington training ground.
BBC
Business
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