The deal, an extension of their current Shirt Sponsorship with EmpireDirect.co.uk, was announced this week and will start at the beginning of the 2005/2006 season.

The new agreement will ensure that Leeds United Ladies can continue to play in the Women's Premier League and be one of the top teams in women's football after the disappointing announcement by Leeds United that they were cutting the funding of the Ladies Team.

The sponsorship will see EmpireDirect.co.uk represented as the main sponsors with the company's logo on the front of the new Admiral shirts.

Manohar Showan, Managing Director for EmpireDirect.co.uk said: "We’re proud to be sponsoring the Leeds United Ladies Team for a further two years as we felt we got value for money with last year’s deal and are already look forward to the next season.

"Leeds United Ladies recently won The FA's 'Marketing Club of the Year' Award so it shows a lot of hard work goes into brand awareness, and we are fully committed to playing an active role in supporting the team to achieve both success and national recognition benefiting our own branding too.

“Women's football is increasing in popularity and with Euro 2005 held in England last month, this will enhance the profile of the women's game and the top teams in the league, including Leeds.”

Leeds United's General Manager, Melanie Vauvelle commented: "We are absolutely delighted with the new extended sponsorship agreement, especially as the initial one year deal worked so well.

"Both parties have put forward a few ideas how we could both benefit each other even more over the coming two years and the sponsorship will ensure that Leeds United Ladies can compete at the highest level in the Women's Premier League.”

Leeds open the 2005/06 league season at home to Fulham, before travelling to reigning champions Arsenal.