Ireland kit supplier Castore under fire again over Villa, Newcastle shirts 

Just weeks after Ireland U21 striker Sinclair Armstrong's Castore kit was badly torn, Aston Villa players are reportedly blaming the wet-look kit for performance issues

YOU RIPPER: Ireland’s Sinclair Armstrong celebrates scoring his side's third goal against San Marino earlier this month with his torn Castore shirt blowing in the wind. Pic: INPHO/Ken Sutton

Kit manufacturing firm Castore, which supplies the Ireland national teams, is battling further negativity after Aston Villa players blamed the kit for affecting their performance and fresh reports claimed Newcastle United broke a long-term deal with the company after fan complaints over jersey quality.

The Manchester-based sportswear brand reportedly received complaints from Villa's men's team after "players reported concerns that their shirts were weighing them down during matches and affecting performance" according to The Guardian. Meanwhile it was reported that the club's women's team are "dreading" wearing the shirts for their televised opening WSL game at home to Manchester United on Sunday. Villa's women have worn the shirt only once in pre-season.