Edinburgh Monarchs suffered a major pre-season blow with the decision by Ziebart not to renew their £30,000 sponsorship deal that was signed last year.
The decision was not totally unexpected due to personnel changes at Ziebart UK shortly after the initial deal was signed. This has left the Monarchs with a last gasp search for a new sponsor. If one is not found it will force the team to operate on a very tight budget. Alex Harkess commented:
"Although their decision did not come as a complete surprise, the loss means that we will be without some financial security. For instance, if we were to suffer another month of rain this season as we did last season then the security provided by the sponsorship to cushion such things has been removed."
"It means our operating budget will be very tight and that is a worry."
"We'll just have to nuckle down and hope we come up trumps."
With the new season just five weeks away there is not much time to put a deal in place. Ziebart declined to comment other than a statement by Dick Brown, their UK franchaise director that "We are disappointed that we cannot continue our relationship with Monarchs."