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Umbro hit by surprise shirt slump
Top sports kit manufacturer Umbro has been affected by poor sales of the replica England football shirt following the team's poor showing in the 2006 World Cup.
The company has said that trading for 2007 will be in line with expectations despite the disappointing England sales, though 2008's figures are expected to be hit by excess stocks of the current home shirt; the new England away shirt is due to be launched in the first quarter of 2008.
Umbro has posted pre-tax profits of £10.1m up to July 2007, a drop of £7.6m from last year's £17.7m.
Perhaps the team's recent upsurge following excellent results against Israel and Russia might ease Umbro's disappointment; most fans agree the current shirt is one of the most attractive of recent years and it has wide appeal to both men and women.
