FA take action to protect England shirt deal from muscle of Nike

The takeover, which shareholders are being asked to approve this week, is due to be finalised in February, around the time Umbro launch their next red England away shirt.

It will be worn at the European Championship Finals provided nothing goes wrong at Wembley tonight.

Nike have made noises in the trade that they regard buying Umbro for £290million as a cheap way of getting hold of the Three Lions brand, especially after being in talks to spend £300m on putting their swoosh on the Germany shirt.

But the FA have clauses in the takeover deal to guard against the more commercially aggressive Nike interfering with the relationship between England and Umbro, which is so strong that Umbro personnel always travel with the squad.

The level of trust was shown by Umbro's calm reaction when England backroom staff arranged for kit produced by Canterbury to be tested on the October trip to Russia.

Such ambush marketing would have sent into meltdown other kit firms with a £100m contract to protect.

FA documents stipulate the Umbro diamond logo will remain on the England strip until the end of the contract in 2014, as well as implying Soho Square will deal directly with Umbro rather than Nike personnel over kit issues.

Nike say they have no problem staying in the background and respect Umbro's strong links with the FA, but add ominously that they would expect all commercial deals to be maximised.