Nationwide were due to increase their links with football by announcing a major new sponsorship programme today.

The building society were expected to reveal details of deals with the England team, the Football League and the Football Conference.

Nationwide would replace vehicle breakdown company Green Flag as sponsors of England. The Green Flag deal was for £4million over four seasons and ran out last year.

Nationwide have sponsored Divisions One, Two and Three for the past three years but that agreement expires this summer and their new, renegotiated deal is thought to be for a further two seasons.

England will still play in the world under-20 tournament in Nigeria - despite the loss of virtually all their first team players.

Youth supremo Howard Wilkinson has ruled out 28 first choice players to placate Premier League and Football League clubs.

Yet he believes it is the second most prestigious worldwide competition and that England's standing in international football would be tarnished if they did not compete.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.