Melbourne Victory, the Australian soccer club, has secured a new back-of-shirt sponsor for the next two seasons.

La Ionica, a poultry supplier, will back the club until 2012. Its branding will appear on the back of the first team shirt, as well as on the shirts of the club's National Youth League team.

"We're very excited about the association," said Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord . "La Ionica are an Australian-based chicken company and they’re a very exciting partner to have with us."

La Ionica marketing manager Pina Di Donato said La Ionica and its founder Sam Cuteri were delighted with the deal.

"Sam and La Ionica, apart from being a major chicken producer, have been involved for many years with local clubs at grassroots level, supporting up and coming talent," he added. "Sam's ambition has been to grow his chicken business to be one of Victoria's major suppliers of chicken and chicken products. Along with his business growth, he is pleased to be able to grow his sponsorship of Melbourne Victory. We at La Ionica are excited about the prospect of seeing our name on the back of the shirt of such a great club."