Singha Corporation has increased its support to Thai-owned English Premier League team Leicester City to 250 million baht in a new three-year contract.
Bhurit Bhirombhakdi, left, and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
Singha executive Bhurit Bhirombhakdi and Leicester City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha yesterday held a press conference to announce the extension of their partnership from 2015-2018.
"It is a good deal for both sides as we are supporting a team that fully belongs to Thais. Our financial support should help them develop into a top team in the English Premier League," Bhurit said.
Aiyawatt said: "This deal is important to our 'Fox Hunt' project. It is our football academy where we have 16 young Thai players training and studying in England for two years.
"When we took over the club in 2012, they were in the Championship [second tier] and now we are in our second Premier League season.
Singha is also a partner of English Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
The company has just signed a contract with City while the deal with Chelsea has two season left.
The firm is negotiating the extension of the contract with Manchester United which expires at the end of this season.
Meanwhile, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, dubbed the 'Tinkerman' in his first spell in England, was left feeling vindicated after Leicester City returned to winning ways against Norwich City despite Riyad Mahraz's omission.
The Italian raised a few eyebrows when he rested Mahrez on Saturday because the winger has been involved in eight of the 17 goals the team have scored this season and leads the Premier League's player-performance index.
Ranieri's nickname stemmed from the way he rang the changes in his time at Chelsea from 2000-04 but the 63-year-old's decision paid off at the weekend as Leicester bounced back from losing 5-2 to Arsenal by beating Norwich 2-1.
"I left Mahrez out because I wanted to put him on in the second half but the match was different and it was good for us, and for Mahrez, to get a rest for one match," Ranieri said.
"It is okay, he can never play 38 matches. I have a lot of players in good condition and that is very good for the manager.
"Maybe we needed to give him a break, we were very solid on the flank. Marc Albrighton helped [full back] Danny Simpson."
Leicester are just one place below the Champions League places after eight games. bangkok post/agencies