Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond today welcomed the new sponsorship deal for the League Cup after his club had been given a first round tie against Lincoln.

The competition is now known as the Worthington Cup after the Football League concluded a £23 million five-year deal with Bass to re-place Coca-Cola, whose sponsorship came to an end last season.

The deal involves £111/2 million in sponsorship and £111/2 million in promotion.

The sponsorship works out at £2.3 million a year, as opposed to £1.3 million a year from Coca-Cola.

"It is a lucrative deal," said Richmond, "and the great thing is the amount they have agreed to spend on promoting the competition. You get a lot of promotion for £111/2 million."

It will be the first time City and Lincoln have met in a competitive match since the Valley Parade fire disaster on May 11, 1985.

City will be at home in the first leg on Tuesday, August 11, with the return at Lincoln the following Tuesday. Huddersfield Town face Mansfield, while Halifax Town meet Wrexham. Burnley play Bury.

The City players have enjoyed a varied first week of training, and manager Paul Jewell has been delighted with the response.

"I am pleased with the way things have gone," he said. "All the players have come back in good shape, and their will to work has been first rate. We are working them very hard."

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