Raith Rovers are still a bit away from gaining promotion to the First Division for next season but that hasn't stopped the club from taking a step up to the big league when it comes to kit suppliers with the official announcement today that the players will be wearing brand new playing and training kit next season supplied by PUMA one of the leading brands of sportswear in the UK and the world.

Puma is a household name throughout the world and has been a major supplier of sportswear to the stars for almost 60 years, with a fantastic record of associating their name with success.

"We are absolutely delighted," said Derby County managing director Mike Horton, "as adidas is a brand renowned for quality and that will appeal to our fans.

The arbitrators appointed by adidas and the German Football Association (DFB) have chosen Prof. Dr. Willi Erdmann, a former Presiding Judge at the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) as Chairman for the arbitration proceedings relating to the extension of their equipment agreement.

Until July 2002, the 69-year-old honorary professor was Presiding Judge of the First Senate responsible for copyright law, publishing law, protection of industrial property law (in particular competition and trademark law), shipping, warehousing and freight law at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe. In addition to serving as a judge at the Federal Court of Justice for more than twenty years – as Presiding Judge of the Senate from 1996 to 2002 – he has distinguished himself through academic publications relating to copyright and trademark law. He is an honorary professor at the University of Osnabrück, where he teaches copyright, competition and trademark law.

During the 20th century, the imperialists drew lines on the map by which they sought to divide up the world in terms of influence.

The time of imperialism is gone, but another group of leaders is looking at the map and contemplating domination: the multinational corporations.

In the realm of sports, Nike and Adidas are the two dominant players, and they are betting their future on winning the contract for sponsorship of the Korea National Football Team.

During the 20th century, the imperialists drew lines on the map by which they sought to divide up the world in terms of influence.

The time of imperialism is gone, but another group of leaders is looking at the map and contemplating domination: the multinational corporations.

In the realm of sports, Nike and Adidas are the two dominant players, and they are betting their future on winning the contract for sponsorship of the Korea National Football Team.

Global sportslifestyle brand Puma has further increased its African footprint with the signing of a sponsorship deal with the Namibian Football Association (NFA). Namibia’s national team, the Brave Warriors, will be supplied with PUMA’s latest v-Series technical apparel and footwear for the next several years through the 2010 World CupTM in South Africa.

Jochen Zeitz of PUMA AG said: "This association underlines PUMA's commitment to African Football and specifically to the growth and development of Football in Namibia. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the NFA."