Everton have appointed Range Sports to secure new front-of-kit and training kit sponsorships beginning with the 2026–27 season
The move comes as the club prepares to replace its current front-of-shirt sponsor, online casino company Stake, to comply with the Premier League’s policy requiring clubs to remove gambling brands from the front of matchday shirts by the end of the 2025–26 season. Everton is one of 11 Premier League clubs affected by the change.
Range Sports was awarded the contract following a competitive process involving several leading agencies. The firm was represented by co-President Greg Luckman and Head of Partnership Sales Flint Reilly, who previously worked at Fenway Sports Group on commercial partnerships for Liverpool.
Everton’s deal with Stake is understood to be worth around £10 million per year, placing it near the league average. The club could be positioned to increase that figure through new commercial opportunities linked to its move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, its new riverfront venue, and recent investment from U.S.-based Friedkin Group, which completed its takeover in 2024.
Founded three years ago, Range Sports has expanded through multiple acquisitions and operates across five U.S. offices. Its sports partnership portfolio includes work with the New Orleans Pelicans, Gotham FC, and Shaun White’s Snow League. Earlier in 2025, the agency facilitated a sponsorship deal between Manchester City and Veritran.
Three parties have provided the administrators of Sheffield Wednesday with proof of £50m in funds to purchase the Championship club.
The club entered administration last week, ending Dejphon Chansiri’s ten-year ownership. The move resulted in a 12-point deduction from the English Football League, leaving Wednesday bottom of the Championship table and 16 points from safety.
The administrators confirmed that all staff wages have now been paid, a day ahead of schedule. Under the previous ownership, wage payments had been delayed in five of the last seven months.
Administrator Kris Wigfield, who is leading the process to find new ownership, said that supporters have spent more than £500,000 on tickets and merchandise since the club entered administration. Fans have also returned to Hillsborough following a boycott that affected recent fixtures, including Carabao Cup ties against Leeds United and Grimsby Town.
The club held an open first-team training session at Hillsborough earlier this week, which was attended by hundreds of supporters. Sheffield Wednesday said the event was organised as a gesture from players and staff to thank fans for their continued support during the period of administration.
Little Dot Studios has achieved B Corp certification
The UK-based multi-platform production company, social media agency and digital media network, part of All3Media, has been verified by B Lab, the non-profit organisation behind the global B Corp movement.
The certification process took more than two years and evaluated the company’s entire operations, including governance, workforce, community impact, environmental practices and customer relations. The assessment also covered Little Dot Studios’ subsidiaries, including specialist sport and branded content agency WING, and History Hit, the podcast network and subscription video-on-demand service founded by Dan Snow.
Little Dot Studios joins a small group of UK media companies to hold B Corp status, alongside organisations such as The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia and The Jamie Oliver Group.
Dan Jones, CEO, Little Dot Studios, said, “Digital media is often overlooked in sustainability conversations. We are proving that large-scale production and distribution can be done responsibly, and we encourage the industry to follow. This achievement symbolises the importance of building a business which puts people and purpose at the heart of what we do for our clients, our staff, and the industry. Media, production and communication organisations have a huge role to play in leaving a positive impact on people and the planet.
“Little Dot Studios has a desire to hold ourselves accountable and inspire change by reducing impact and driving sustainability across our networks. We are immensely proud of how far we have come and achieving B Corp™ certification shows we are committed to creating a more purpose-driven, sustainable future – whilst also producing industry-leading work.”
Players in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (BWSL2) have become eligible for membership of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)
The development follows an agreement between the PFA and Women’s Super League Football, which oversees both the Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) and BWSL2. Players in the second tier will now receive access, support, and representation from the PFA, as well as the full range of union services and benefits.
The move means England is now the only country in the world with two fully professional women’s football leagues. It follows recommendations made in the 2023 independent review into women’s football, led by Karen Carney OBE, which called for enhanced minimum standards, maternity rights, mental health support, and formalised union representation.
WSL Football, which took over management of the top two tiers in 2024, has reached a funding agreement with the PFA to support these services.
A new Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC) has also been established for the women’s game, mirroring the system used in men’s football. The committee will provide a formal platform for dialogue between players and the league on matters that affect their professional environment.
Holly Murdoch, COO, WSL Football, said, “The women’s game is on a steep upwards trajectory, evolving from amateur to professional in a remarkably short time. The steps we have put into place to fully professionalise the BWSL2 is another move forward and our commitment to a playercentred approach ensures every footballer in the BWSL and BWSL2 can benefit from the PFA’s comprehensive support and expertise.
“Karen Carney’s Raise the Bar recommendations have been instrumental in shaping the future of the women’s game and since WSL Football was established, we have enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the PFA which we look forward to building on in the coming years.”
