METAL fabrication firm WEC’s sponsorship of a stand at Ewood Park has ended leaving Blackburn Rovers without a commercial sponsor.

The company and the football club confirmed that the rolling one-year deal had finished as the name boards came down from the Darwen End of the ground.

Rovers bosses said they were in talks with a number of possible sponsors for both the shirt and stand.

Blackburn MP and Rovers fan Jack Straw said he was hopeful that the team’s successful start to their first season in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League might bring them some high-profile sponsorship.

WEC director Wayne Wild, chief executive of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Investment Trust which is seeking to buy a stake in the club, said: “It was a one-year rolling agreement. That agreement has now come to an end.”

The failure of the Darwen firm and club to agree a new deal after four years comes after the end of a one year free sponsorship of the Rovers shirts by The Prince’s Trust.

Rovers operations director Paul Agnew said: “WEC and the club have been unable to agree a further one-year deal for the Darwen End. We currently have no stand sponsorship or sponsors for the shirts after the agreement to allow the Prince’s Trust to be on them for a one-year period.

“We are currently in talks with a number of potential shirt and stand sponsors but have yet to reach any agreements.

“That does not mean we will not do so in the near future.

“We need to maintain the value of the brand particularly regarding shirt sponsorship.”

Mr Straw said: “I think it is unfortunate that Rovers have no sponsorship at the moment.

“Obviously it would be good if the club got new financial support for Rovers, but it is their first year back in the Championship.”

Glen Mullan, chairman of the BRFC Action Group, said: “I am disappointed that WEC has ended its sponsorship of the club at a time when supporters are staying away.

“The club needs sponsors to come forward to get revenue at a time when fans are not buying tickets.”