Port Vale FC have confirmed that three of their long-running sponsorship deals have now ended.
The deals with Autonet, Foodhub and Blink have all come to an end. Autonet have been a key commercial partner for the club sponsoring all four of the stands at the Vale Park stadium. Meanwhile, Foodhub have provided catering and marketing agency Blink have worked on creative projects.
A statement on the official website commented that:
We would like to place on record our thanks to Autonet Insurance, Foodhub and Blink Creative following the conclusion of their respective partnership agreements with the club.
Since joining us six seasons ago, Autonet – whose name has adorned each of Vale Park’s four stands – have played a significant role in supporting the club both on and off the pitch as a Principal Partner. Their backing has spanned a number of important moments in our recent history, and everyone at the club is grateful for their commitment and contribution throughout the partnership.
Similarly, Foodhub – Diamond Partners for each of the last three seasons – have supported the club through matchday infrastructure, with their e-kiosks helping to ensure a positive supporter experience at Vale Park.
Another valued partner, Blink Creative have worked closely with the club for a number of years on various creative projects – from official player photoshoots to the creation of high-quality graphics and animation.
While this chapter comes to a close, the club is in a strong position commercially and continues to see positive momentum across its partnerships portfolio. Work is already well under way on the next phase of our commercial journey, with a number of exciting opportunities on the way ahead of the 2026/27 season.
This transition forms part of the club’s ongoing development, with a clear focus on building sustainable, long-term relationships that support our ambitions on and off the pitch.
It’s a worrying concerning when a sponsor like Autonet walk away. Not only have they been responsible for sponsoring all four stands, but they have also been on Vale’s training kit for several years, and I believe they have contributed to numerous other projects including the new scoreboard. Rumours were, they had attempted to buy shares into the club on a couple of occasions (please correct me if I’m wrong) without success. It is just guess work why their participation into the club has come to an end but still very worrying, not only from a financial point of view, but also because it’s another step towards everything being kept even more secretively within the club. The club’s financial loses are not just scary. they are petrifying. And what’s even more concerning, it’s increasing every season and Hancock and the owners are showing hardly any concerns or appear to be doing anything to reduce them. I do remember a few years ago Carol making a statement to squash rumours of friction between the owners and Autonet. It would be nice if something similar could happen, the club needs all the help it can get.
My thoughts exactly. New shirt sponsors, stand sponsors, surely must have someone ready to step in, like you say, very lapsed on giving fans or the supporters club satisfactory feedback, some announcement could help boost ticket sales alleviate rumbling rumours.