BLACKBURN Rovers have announced a five-year kit deal with Umbro.

The Manchester-based football brand will take over from Nike as the club’s technical kit and sportswear provider.

Rovers wore Umbro kits as early as 1975 and as recently as 2013.

And from the 2016-17 season onwards the famous double diamond will once again adorn all of the club’s on-pith products as well as training and leisurewear for both players and fans.

Paul Nugent, VP of global marketing for Umbro, said: “Blackburn Rovers’ ‘Arte et Labore’ (‘by skill and hard work’) motto is a great fit with our own values, so we are delighted to have re-established our technical kit partnership with them.

“Both Umbro and Blackburn Rovers have rich histories, however we are looking forward, not back, and aspiring to create new moments for fans to celebrate.

 “We’ve worked closely with the club to design a set of unique kits which combine the performance elements required by modern day players along with the stylish designs Umbro is renowned for.”

Greg Coar, head of commercial & marketing at Rovers, added: “We are delighted to welcome Umbro back to Rovers as technical kit supplier.

“Umbro are building an impressive portfolio of clubs and it will be great to have their famous logo back on the blue-and-white halves.

“It’s a brand with a rich football heritage and is the perfect fit for our iconic strip.

“The team at Umbro have shown great respect for our history and tradition, but also have a fresh outlook, which makes it an exciting partnership at the core of the club over the next few years.”

The new Rovers kits will be revealed in the summer ahead of the 2016-17 Championship campaign.