IPSWICH Town fans will today find out which company's name will be appearing on the front of the club's shirts next season - but it won't be SnOasis just yet.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town fans will today find out which company's name will be appearing on the front of the club's shirts next season - but it won't be SnOasis just yet.

The Blues will officially announce the name of the new main sponsor at midday today after the man behind the winter sports complex revealed they would not be taking up the option this year.

SnOasis were strong favourites to do a deal but have only been given tacit approval by the Government to go ahead with their £350m project and still have to fulfil a number of conditions so will not get the full go-ahead until September.

SnOasis chief executive Godfrey Spanner last night confirmed: “Sponsoring Ipswich Town is something we would still consider but not just yet. It is by no means completely dead but we have 10 weeks' hard work coming up and need to focus on that.

“It is possible we will look at doing something with Ipswich Town in a year or so - it is not completely dead.” University Campus Suffolk and Felixstowe Docks are two other high-profile local companies that are also understood to have shown an interest in becoming Town's main sponsor.

Another possibility has been any number of Town owner Marcus Evans' group of companies, with Linguarama deemed an appropriate fit given its worldwide profile.

The Blues have also been chasing a nationally-known brand for some time.

The club have already confirmed that National Express, AXA and Willis have held discussions with the club but have declined to take things further.

Blues chief executive Derek Bowden hopes that Town will still be able to tie up a deal with National Express for discounted rail and coach travel but confirmed last week they will not be the main sponsor.

E.on ended their seven-year association at the end of the season after having the names TXU Energi and Powergen on the Town shirts in that time.