BARROW AFC have unveiled their shirts for the 2016/17 season – with accountants JF Hornby the club's new main sponsor.

The Bluebirds will continue to play in white shirts with blue shorts in home matches, with second and third strips maintaining the colour scheme of this season.

Kit manufacturers Player Layer will produce a blue shirt and white shorts for the standard away kit, with an all red strip employed in case of a clash with both first two choices.

The goalkeeper will have the option of purple, orange and green jerseys.

JF Hornby have signed a three-year deal to be Barrow's main shirt sponsors, with the option of a fourth season, replacing St Mary's Hospice, who had a one-year agreement in place.

The hope is that the new strips will be available either before the end of the current season of just after its conclusion.

Barrow chief executive officer Austin Straker, who has been working on the sponsorship and shirt deals with representatives of JF Hornby and Player Layer, is happy with the arrangements.

He said: “Paul Hornby has built a company with a reputation for excellence and fully understands the benefits to the area and the community of having a successful football club, fully supported by local businesses.

“We all believe that this will be the start of a long and fruitful association.”

Barrow owner Paul Casson is particularly pleased to have the shirts finalised so early in the season.

He hopes that will give supporters more time to purchase them before the season starts, having had issues with the late arrival of strips in the past.

“We can get the replicas in on time now, so we're happy to have that out of the way,” he said.

“JF Hornby are a local business and they have been very supportive of the club since I have been here. I think it will be a very productive relationship.”

A club statement on the sponsorship deal added: “Not only are JF Hornby a leading company in the area, but they have also won accountants of the year for 2015 for all of Britain.

“Barrow AFC are proud to have a sponsor that is also their first choice in accounting services.

“This partnership is a hallmark for Barrow AFC as JF Hornby is a company that passionately supports the club, as well as providing professional advice towards best practices.

“It is a three-year deal with a fourth year option that we hope spans the promotion of Barrow AFC into the Football League.”