Arnold believes new shirt sponsors Aon fit the bill after the company began a four-year deal at Old Trafford. He said: "We try and make sure we are associated with businesses that do have strong brands and who support the vision of the club. "They are very respectful of the management team, totally focussed on making sure we are successful on the pitch. "They completely understand we are an elite football team first and foremost. The commercial activities that go with that fit in t around that principal aim. They are very understanding of that. "By virtue of the long heritage of the club and the work that has gone into building a strong platform we are in the fortunate position of being quite selective about partners. Aon are a very international company." United have continued to attract sponsorship despite the long-running and prominent protests from fans against the Glazer family's ownership. Club chief executive David Gill yesterday admitted he does not think the 'Green and Gold' protests are going to be abandoned, even as the Glazers reiterate their determination to retain the club. The Red Knights, a group of wealthy businessmen who had been aggressively pursuing a deal, are expected to give a statement at 9am today, according to the Manchester United Supporters Trust. But in the meantime, United will continue push forward with the Glazers' business plan, which involves more deals like that with Aon. Arnold added: "One of things that sets this club apart from other businesses in this area, if you like, is that we have a strong culture of really starting once the deal is done. "We have a team that goes onto this, a large team, maybe 200 people work in the commercial side of the business. We get behind the sponsors and make sure their activities are very successful. "We are very attractive to partners. It's about 130 years of winning football and passionate fans in the largest club in the largest sport around the world. There is a very powerful platform that goes with that." Greg Case, chief executive of Aon, whose headquarters are in Chicago, had a message for the fans in particular. "We want them to know we are here to support a great club, their club, " he said. "We want to do it in a way that is compelling and exciting and build a long-term partnership between two great institutions. "The passion the fans have for the game, the excitement they have for the game, that is what drew us to this partnership. That is what we are so excited about."
