Aston Villa and kit manufacturer Castore are on the verge of agreeing to an early termination of their contract amidst controversy surrounding the club’s ‘wet-look’ jerseys, per the Telegraph.
The shirts have sparked complaints from both male and female players at the club.
Discussions have already commenced regarding a possible amicable resolution to Villa’s multi-year partnership with Castore, which expires at the end of this season.
Although Villa and Castore have refrained from commenting on the matter officially, sources suggest that the talks have been prompted by the ongoing issue with this season’s shirts.
The British sportswear manufacturer is under intense pressure.
Castore has broken its silence on the shirt controversy, pledging to ‘address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect’.
The company is actively exploring short-term and long-term solutions to rectify Villa’s shirt dilemma for the remainder of the campaign.
A spokesperson for Castore expressed their commitment to resolving the issue promptly, saying: “We are working closely in collaboration with the club to address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect.
“We would like to thank the club for their patience and support to date.”
Castore emphasised its dedication to maintaining high standards and addressing customer concerns.
Newcastle United recently exercised an exit clause in their agreement with Castore, opting to have their kits produced by adidas starting next season.
This move has fuelled speculation that Villa, co-owned by Nassef Sawiris, who also holds a stake in the German sportswear giant adidas, may follow suit.
Villa’s kits for the season are not currently listed for sale on the Castore pages of the JD Sports or Sports Direct websites.
However, it remains unclear if this is related to the discussions regarding the early termination of their contract.
Villa players have complained about this season’s shirts, which quickly become wet and stick uncomfortably to their bodies.
The Villa kit problem is only for the shirts worn by the players. There is no suggestion the club or Castore will have to issue new replica shirts to supporters.
