Shirt Sponsor 23/24 - BK8

[Randy Gurner]

https://twitter.com/TyBracey/status/1671860173479067648?t=toZvwgkbFIkim-sbg8CODQ&s=19

2/10

[Sexual Ealing]

Hmmm. All a bit West Ham.

[PaulWinch again]

If people have an issue with BK8 or gambling that’s fine. But there could have been any number of sponsors that if you dig deep enough there would have been something distasteful in their practices or past. Where do you draw the line at moral condemnation or outrage?

 There isn’t a line is there? It’s about people’s own values and what the ascribe importance to.

[Goldenballs]

Looks cack.

[pablo_picasso]

Not a huge fan. 4/10

The crest looks great though.

Im wondering if the white, yellow & claret hooped flag on one of Watkins pics is a hint of the away shirt?

[Grande Pablo]

Awful sponsor, but probably the best deal on the table at the time when we were staring down the barrel of relegation.

A higher finish next season & hopeful UEFA Cup qualification will see bigger & better kit & shirt sponsors coming to us.

[Dogtanian]

Article in the Athletic about the sponsor, the badge, and the kit;

https://theathletic.com/4632314/2023/06/23/aston-villa-kit-gambling/?source=user_shared_article

“Villa’s three-year deal with BK8 — a club-record agreement worth considerably more than the £6million-a-year agreement with previous sponsor Cazoo — takes them right up to the cut-off point for having gambling companies on the front of shirts.”

Didn’t Purslow say before that these companies were offering double what others in the market were? If we are getting £10m+ a year from it, you can see why they have been tempted within the current FFP rules.

[PeterWithe]

From the Supporters Trust. Short of putting 'Fuck you Purslow' they cant be any more damning.

Dear PW

The Trust released the following statement this evening regarding today's BK8 sponsorship announcement by the Club.


The Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust is highly disappointed with the Club’s announcement of a Principal Partnership with BK8 as its front-of-shirt sponsor for the next three seasons.

In January, several Villa fan groups put together a joint statement expressing concerns over the reported discussions with BK8, highlighting the social and mental health harms caused by problem gambling, with over 400 gambling suicides annually in the UK and millions more harmed. We also expressed concerns about BK8’s misogynistic marketing practices and the reversal of the Club’s stance on not having a front-of-shirt gambling sponsor.

At the time, we were given assurances over the Club’s due diligence process and advised that the misogynistic marketing practices were that of a BK8 affiliate. Though we acknowledge the commercial reality, we sadly feel that the Club has failed to listen to the legitimate concerns of fans about the role of gambling sponsorship in sports.

Furthermore, as part of the agreement, BK8 will contribute a portion of the sales of the third shirt to a local charity. Whilst we welcome funding for good causes, it should not come at the expense of others. Similarly, whilst we understand fans, players and Club staff alike want Villa to be as successful as possible, that should not come at the expense of exposing fans to the exploitative practices of gambling operators, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

The BK8 agreement is a cynical last-minute attempt to scoop the financial gains ahead of the voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors taking effect from the 2026-27 season.

The Trust sincerely hopes that the Club, under the leadership of newly appointed Global President of Business Operations - Chris Heck, will be guided by fan representation in future matters.


Kind regards

Mo Razzaq

[Scott Nielsen]

Seems a bit convenient to blame everything on Purslow but obviously our owners signed off on the deal.

[Brazilian Villain]

From the Supporters Trust. Short of putting 'Fuck you Purslow' they cant be any more damning.

Certainly raises a question or two, like "Who the f*ck is Mo Razzaq?"

[dave.woodhall]

From the Supporters Trust. Short of putting 'Fuck you Purslow' they cant be any more damning.

Certainly raises a question or two, like "Who the f*ck is Mo Razzaq?"

Chair of the Trust. If you were a member you should know that.

[Exeter 77]

On the subject of AVST what happened to Peter Warrilow?

[dave.woodhall]

On the subject of AVST what happened to Peter Warrilow?

Stepped down. He's in his seventies now.

[Brazilian Villain]

From the Supporters Trust. Short of putting 'Fuck you Purslow' they cant be any more damning.

Certainly raises a question or two, like "Who the f*ck is Mo Razzaq?"

Chair of the Trust. If you were a member you should know that.

I'm not, and have no plans to become one.

[Bad English]

From the Supporters Trust. Short of putting 'Fuck you Purslow' they cant be any more damning.

Certainly raises a question or two, like "Who the f*ck is Mo Razzaq?"

I still want to know who Dan Bardell is.