A Manchester-based company has revealed plans to revive retro sportswear brand Admiral.

The rights to the brand for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa have been bought by Admiral Sportswear Limited, which was set up specially for the acquisition.

The new business will be headed up by managing director Jonathan Hamburger alongside sales and marketing director Tim Gardiner, a former executive at Umbro, JD Fashion and West Bromwich Albion.

Admiral, founded in 1914 in  Leicester as Cook & Hurst Limited, is one of Britain's oldest sportswear brands.

It started out making underwear for the Armed Forces and went on to manufacturer football kits for Manchester United, Leeds, Tottenham and many others.

It was the first sports brand logo to appear on the England national football strip.

But while popular in the 70s and 80s it had fallen out of fashion in recent times and had stopped making new products. Its rights were in the hands of a holding company in Switzerland until this deal.

Now Hamburger and Gardiner believe they can capitalise on the resurgence in retro sportswear and return the brand to its former glories.

They plan to once again manufacturer football apparel and sell a fashion range including retro kits.

Hamburger said: "We’re delighted to have acquired such an iconic, British sports brand, with nearly 100 years of heritage and believe the opportunities to re-energise and grow the brand throughout Europe are endless."

Fashion PR agency Cube has been appointed to raise awareness of the revived brand.

Admiral claims it is now "in discussion with a number of potential licensees" throughout Europe and retail partners in the UK.