WINTER sports resort SnOasis is considering taking over as Ipswich Town's main sponsors.Talks have been held between the £350million centre's developer Onslow Suffolk Ltd and the Blues, but further discussions will not take place until the go-ahead for the complex has been approved.

Derek Davis

WINTER sports resort SnOasis is considering taking over as Ipswich Town's main sponsors.

Talks have been held between the £350million centre's developer Onslow Suffolk Ltd and the Blues, but further discussions will not take place until the go-ahead for the complex has been approved.

Secretary of State Hazel Blears is due to announce her decision on May 7 and if SnOasis gets the green light it is understood bosses will move quickly to try and finalise an initial two-year deal.

Onslow Suffolk managing director Godfrey Spanner would not go into details but confirmed: “I have met with Ipswich Town and have had discussions.

“We are not planning too far ahead but it is a nice thought and could happen.”

An Ipswich Town spokesman added: "We can confirm that we have spoken to a number of organisations who have indicated an interest in sponsoring the club once the current arrangement with E.ON expires in the summer. No decisions have been taken at this time and we will be making no further comment until later in the year."

If approved, SnOasis, billed as the world's first indoor winter sports resort, at Great Blakenham is expected to provide 1,800 full-time operational jobs with predicted visitors coming from all around Europe.

The new sponsorship would take over from E.ON, whose deal expires at the end of this season after a seven-year association.

Originally TXU Energi, it became Powergen and finally E.ON, which will carry on its sponsorship of the FA Cup.

Town have held talks with a number of companies based in East Anglia including insurance giants AXA which has declined the opportunity.

Chief executive Derek Bowden revealed to the EADT back in early March that Town were casting their net internationally but were prepared to wait until the close season in order to get the right deal.

One of the options Town are considering is to have one of owner Marcus Evans' companies on the front of their shirts, with Linguarama a strong possibility.

But Evans understandably would prefer fresh investment to supplement his investment into the club which is estimated to be around £16million so far.