Maybank’s Manchester United Card of Champions needs an update……

Manchester City ruin Maybank's Manchester United Champions Card campaign......

Maybank, Malaysia’s largest bank, have created a partnership with Manchester United and recently launched a "Champions Card".....

Oh how they must be wishing that they had waited until the end of the season….and this means the 95th minute of the last game of the season (0therwise ironically called Fergie time....)!!!

Do you think that they will now rename it the "Runners Up Card"? Doesn’t really have the same ring about it……oh dear! Who's head is rolling for this decision?

I presume that as it was launched in April when Maybank's Manchester United supporting Marketing Team  arrogantly assumed that Manchester United would still be champions in May….they

Now renamed the "Runners Up" Card......

never expected Manctester City to spoil the party and to actual become the real champions.

They could always change all the strips to light blue and change the logo and change all the players. No longer Wayne Rooney’s ugly mug but David Silva or Vincent Kompany lifting the Premiership trophy………i.e change it to the real champions!

In terms of partnership/sponsorship marketing this has to be one of the costliest mistakes ever made. Every bit of marketing that Maybank have launched from social media to TV campaigns, poster campaigns to point of sale in all stores shop fronts, marketing on all ATM's and on every counter top in every Maybank market (including Singapore) and all newspaper adverts all say “Own the card of CHAMPIONS”

You couldn't make it up, the 95th minute winner which propelled Manchester City to being Premiership Champions in the most dramatic style....

Purely under trades descriptions this is now out of date and inaccurate….I know Alex Ferguson is having trouble accepting that the power has moved from United to City in the Manchester area as well as in the English Premiership but champions they are no longer under any category you wish to mention!

The benefits of the card itself, 10% off the terrible Manchester United stores in Marina Bay Sands and CityLink Mall in Singapore for example  along with five times points earned on what a cardholder has spent when Manchester United win at least showed this confidence and creativity.

They just chose the wrong time to launch it……….or maybe they knew this would happen and got in their quickly with the "Card of Champions" line knowing that they would have to change all creative at vast expense a month later………

Time's Up on Manchester United "Champions" Tour's of Asia......this year it's the Runners Up Tour!