Walsall today held a press conference to announce, in their own usual way, the world’s worst kept secret, the new stand sponsorship deal.

As we have all known for some time, since the news was broken on our message board, the deal for the away stand is with one of the town’s most successful companies – Homeserve, who will have exclusive rights until at the end of the 2006/07 season.

The sponsorship comes into immediate effect, following the previous sponsor, Healthland, going into administration.

Commercial Director Roy Whalley said, “We are very grateful to Homeserve for responding so quickly to the difficult situation we found ourselves in,” he said. “They are one of Walsall’s largest and most successful companies, and we are delighted that they have now become one of our senior commercial partners.

Homeserve have moved very quickly. Their signage is already in place, and we hope that this sponsorship marks the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship between the two organisations.”

Homeserve will mark their sponsorship with the mass release of balloons before the game against Bristol City, so there is an opportunity for the fans to whip up some atmosphere before what is turning into one of the more important games in the recent history of the club.