Sponsor Smylie dumps Steamers

Bay of Plenty Rugby's turbulent relationship with major sponsor Western Bay Finance has come to an end, three years after the finance company bailed out the ailing union.
In a statement today, Western Bay Finance chairman Jim Smylie announced he was withdrawing his sponsorship - believed to be around $200,000 a year - laying the blame squarely on sections of the media.
Smylie said it was the failure of some media outlets to use the team's full sponsored name that had cost the union and he wasn't renewing his year-by-year deal.
"A large sponsorship agreement is a serious business decision," Smylie said. "After reviewing our contract with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union we have found the sponsorship did not meet our criteria."
BOPRU chief executive Paul Abbot was unavailable for comment but the Bay of Plenty Times understands the union is already negotiating with a potential naming rights sponsor to replace Western Bay Finance.
Smylie's relationship with the union has been somewhat strained. He upset team management in 2003 when he offered a $280,000 bonus if the Steamers could snare the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, disrupting preparations for the match.
He had a major dispute with Baypark owner Bob Clarkson in 2004 over naming rights to the stadium, which culminated in Clarkson walking away from the deal and signing with Blue Chip New Zealand. Smylie's beloved dog Jack was also subsequently banned after he brought it into a corporate box.
And Smylie also upset some Bay officials last year when he signed as naming rights sponsor for Counties-Manukau and members of his entourage wore Steelers jackets to a game in Whakatane between the two unions.
But Smylie also helped lift the profile of the Steamers through his bold stunts, like the Ranfurly Shield bonus and was a pivotal figure in bringing the majority of games from Rotorua to Tauranga.
He also injected much-needed cash when the union was technically insolvent.
Today's media statement was in keeping with his eccentric style, using veteran radio broadcaster Murray Deaker to help emphasise his point about the use of sponsors' names in the media.
"Basically the reason sponsors are not getting mentioned in the news is because there is a significant branch of the media showing arrogance and snobbery in this particular area," Deaker was quoted as saying.
Smylie will continue his sponsorship of the Counties-Manukau NPC team, the Bay of Plenty Racing Club and the Legends Regatta Yacht Race.