Cook: We have lift-off

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook has hailed the club's 10-year partnership with Etihad Airways.

Cook has branded the deal as "one of the most important arrangements in the history of world football".The package includes an extension of the present shirt sponsorship arrangements, plus naming rights to the stadium, which means Eastlands will now be known as the Etihad Stadium.In addition, the area around the ground will be titled Etihad Campus.The lucrative contract will help City in their attempts to meet UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, which have restricted manager Roberto Mancini's spending in the transfer market this summer."We are delighted to announce a 10-year extension of our partnership with Etihad Airways," said Cook."The partnership will not only cover a shirt sponsorship extension, but also the Etihad Stadium."The wider area around the stadium will be known as the Etihad Campus. There are other elements, such as media, business and community co-operation."It could be one of the most important arrangements in the history of world football."Etihad have sponsored City for the last two years, reinforcing a connection with Abu Dhabi that is clearly evident through owner Sheikh Mansour.The huge influx of cash has propelled City into this season's Champions League, in addition to ending a 35-year trophy drought in the FA Cup final in May."The partnership is about continuing to increase our investment in youth development, the scale and scope of our community programmes and continue to build our profile in major markets," said Cook."The backdrop is UEFA's Financial Fair Play and this helps to make significant progress in that area."This is not just a wide-ranging agreement. It is a long-term commitment."