A delegation from English soccer club Everton has flown to Thailand for a series of meetings and negotiations with long-term shirt sponsor Chang as the club seeks to increase its commercial income from the deal and its presence in Asia.

Everton, who have finished fifth in the Premier League - the best of the rest behind to so-called Big Four - for the past two seasons and reached this year's FA Cup final, have seen the teams above them dramatically increase their shirt sponsorship agreements this year, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton's local rivals Liverpool all securing huge deals.

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United and Liverpool's are worth £20 million per season and, while Everton cannot hope to match that figure, the club is keen not to be outstripped again by the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, whose £8.5 million per year partnership with Mansion expires at the end of this season.

During the delegation's three days in Thailand, representatives will meet with the Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Governor of Bangkok, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the entire Chang executive team and some of the club's Thai supporters at a function on Wednesday evening, reported the club website.

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"We are looking forward to jetting out," said chief executive Robert Elstone befor leaving. "Chang has been very supportive of Everton since we first signed with them in 2004 and we have developed a great relationship. We hope to get an update on their plans for the future, which we are extremely excited about and we will of course pass on the successes we have all enjoyed at Everton this year."