UMBRO, the global football brand, has announced a new four-year kit deal with Rangers.

The agreement, which begins at the start of the 2005/06 season, renews a relationship which began in the 1960's and continued through the 70's and 80's - Ian Durrant is pictured below in the previous Umbro kit - a time that witnessed Rangers embarking on a sustained period of dominance within the domestic game.

The new partnership will see Rangers wearing the UMBRO brand on all of the Club's playing and training product. The deal also sees UMBRO becoming the exclusive technical sportswear sponsor of Rangers FC.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Prothero, Senior Vice President of Football at UMBRO, said: "We are delighted to be renewing our relationship with one of football's biggest and most respected clubs, Rangers F.C.

The partnership underpins UMBRO's on-going strategy of aligning ourselves with teams of global significance and further authenticates our position within football.

"Additionally , it will further support our international growth in the North American markets where Rangers traditionally has a strong support base. We are extremely excited at the prospect of working closely with the Club over the next 4 years."

Nick Peel, Rangers Retail Brand Director, added: "I too am delighted with our new four-year deal with UMBRO, one of the world's top three football brands. This deal, for an undisclosed seven-figure sum, will continue to see Rangers manufacture and distribute its own replica kit. We anticipate this ground-breaking initiative will deliver over £6.5 million to the Club per annum."

A key and strategic element to the partnership is the development of the UMBRO and Rangers brands globally. UMBRO have secured distribution rights to all "Official" team replica kits and training productsinternationallyas well as the rights to distribute a range of non-team merchandise both within the UK and Internationally.

Rangers will be responsible for the distribution of all "Official" team merchandise within the UK, including their own retail stores.

The new home kit for the 2005/2006 season will be launched on May 12th 2005.

Rangers Manager Alex McLeish commented: "It's great news that the Club is back in partnership with UMBRO, an authentic football brand."