Crown Paints is to be the new club sponsor of Blackburn Rovers. The company, based in Darwen, Lancashire, has signed a three year deal with Rovers. The club's current agreement with Bet 24 is due to expire at the end of this season.

The move by Crown marks a return to top flight football after more than 20 years away from the game.

Howard Luft, Managing Director of Crown Paints, said: "This is a welcome return to football for us and is truly a marriage made in heaven. A large part of our Darwen workforce are Rovers supporters and I know they will be delighted with this announcement.

"We are a local company but we have a national client base and we want Crown Paints to become synonymous with Blackburn Rovers who in recent years have enjoyed continued success in what is arguably the most popular football league in the world."

Blackburn Rovers chairman, John Williams said: "Crown Paints is an exciting partner for the club. This deal gives us the opportunity to work with a major national brand with the added benefit of a strong local connection. We were looking for a long term relationship with our new sponsor and this agreement forms part of a broader communications strategy for both of us."

Pictured: Chris Rawlings - Sportfive, Tom Finn - BRFC Managing Director, Howard Luft - Crown Paints Managing Director, John Williams - BRFC Chairman, Joe Devitt - Crown Paints Retail Director, Simon Williams - BRFC Head of Commercial & Marketing, Adrian Danes - Sportfive.