Billionaire Mike Ashley wants to link his Slazenger brand to English cricket teams as part of a multi-million pound bid to overhaul the finances of Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).
Sky News has learned that Mr Ashley has submitted to the England and Wales Cricket Board a proposal that would see him replace Slazenger Castor as a supplier to England’s national teams.
Multiple sources said the Frasers Group mogul was pursuing efforts to expand the Slazenger brand into cricket, and indicated to the ECB that the Yorkshire deal would need to be approved alongside it.
Mr Ashley has been linked to Yorkshire’s financial rescue for months, mostly with a deal to buy the historic Headingley land for £23m under sale and leaseback arrangements.
However, such a deal is beginning to look increasingly unlikely as other candidates for the club emerge.
A number of competing offers would involve injecting capital into YCCC while leaving the Headingley ownership intact.
The ECB is said to have made it clear to Ashley that it has a long-term equipment supply deal with Castor, the sportswear brand.
The Kasturi partnership began in April last year and is said to have several years to go.
A cricket insider said Ashley had recently approached Castor to gauge his interest in buying him from the ECB, although this could not be independently verified.
Among the competitors proposing to provide new funding for the club is Colin Greaves, its former president.
It is understood Mr Greaves is receiving advice on his interest from Oakwell Consulting, a specialist sports consultancy.
A number of Indian Premier League franchise owners and an unnamed American bidder have also been linked to the club.
Yorkshire’s finances have been hit hard by a racism scandal involving former player Azim Rafiq.
In July, the club was docked 48 points from this year’s County Championship standings and fined £400,000 by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, with three-quarters of the amount suspended for two years.
The European Central Bank had recommended imposing a fine of £500,000, with £350,000 suspended for three years.
Rafiq had claimed that English cricket was “institutionally racist”, prompting sponsors and other commercial partners to cut ties with the club.
The refinancing of the club’s debt – a large portion of which goes into Mr Greaves’ family trust – is now not expected to be completed until at least next month.
The YCCC has forged new leadership since being engulfed by racial row, with former professional footballer Stephen Vaughan appointed chief executive just over a year ago.
Harry Chatley was appointed club president in October.
A spokesman for Mr Ashley did not respond to several requests for comment made over a period of more than 24 hours, while the Fraser Group declined to comment on his behalf.
The European Central Bank and YCCC also declined to comment.