Betting firm on both sides in Championship clash

West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest will both promote the same sponsor when they meet after Albion secured a one match deal with betting company Victor Chandler, following on from a similar deal with Blue Square.

Victor Chandler will appear on the team's shirts during Friday night's televised clash with Nottingham Forest. The company's motivation is clear - as it already has a long-term partnership in place with Forest, it will have a dominant presence during the match at The Hawthorns.

West Brom finance director Mark Jenkins added: "We are delighted to have teamed up with Victor Chandler for Friday's game. There cannot have been too many occasions when a company has sponsored the shirts of two opposing teams.

WBA have been unable to find a long-term shirt sponsorship since the summer of 2008, a situation that has not been helped by the Baggies' relegation to the second tier. West Brom are currently second in The Championship - a position that would bring automatic qualification back to the Premier League at the end of the season - and trail leaders Newcastle by six points with a game in hand.

"I am delighted we have reached agreement with West Brom so the Victor Chandler name will be carried by both teams on Friday evening," said Victor Chandler, owner of the company.

"West Brom and Forest are having fantastic seasons and although West Brom enter the match as odds-on favourites I'll have to sit on the fence and predict a draw!"