Colchester United’s sponsor of 10 years has criticised the club over the way it handled the ending of a 10 year partnership.

The club confirmed earlier this year it was not seeking to renew its decade-long deal with Weston Homes – ending a partnership which had begun when the club moved from its old home in Layer Road in 2008.

At the time, the U’s said it had been a “fabulous” partnership, which had seen three million visitors, six international football matches and three music concerts at the Weston Homes Colchester Community Stadium.

The club said it had parted with Weston Homes on “extremely good terms”, with both sides celebrating the “significant benefits generated by the decade long partnership”.

Yesterday, however, Weston Homes gave a different account of the partnership’s ending.

The building firm said the club’s announcement had been made without its involvement and questioned why the decision had been taken.

It said the 10 year deal had given the club “in excess of £1.5m sponsorship” and Weston Homes would have “happily negotiated another 10 year sponsorship packaged worth potentially millions to the football club”.

Weston Homes said it was “bitterly disappointed” at the way the ending of the partnership has been handled.

A Weston Homes spokesman said: “It is really sad and shocking the way this partnership has ended, and it has really upset our chairman and CEO Bob Weston that the club has chosen to end the deal and then abruptly announced their decision publicly without prior consultation with the housebuilder.

“Weston Homes has been extremely loyal to Colchester United and supported the club in so many ways over the last decade, so this has been deeply distressing. Its a sad ending to what has otherwise been a fantastic partnership.”

The spokesman added: “Up until these recent events historically we have had a fantastic partnership with Colchester United and the decade long sponsorship agreement got our brand name partnered with the Stadium and the football club and, as a result, has seen us associated with a range of extremely high profile sporting, music, charity and cultural events.”

Colchester United has been invited to respond.