NEW KIT PLAN UNDERWAY

Everton's new kits for the 2007/08 season are proving a huge hit with supporters - but work is already underway on next season's designs.

That is the news from Steve Marsters, a senior figure from JJB who is in the United States with the Everton party.

Marsters is spending three days with the Blues' party during the 10-day tour of the US in order to ensure the players, management and staff are happy with the kit provided by JJB as part of Everton's unique retail deal with the Wigan-based company.

Everton lined-up in their new white second kit for Saturday night's friendly with Real Salt Lake.

Launched just a few weeks ago, the kit is proving hugely popular with supporters.

Marsters has revealed to evertonTV that almost a year of development goes into planning Everton's kits - and work is already underway on what the players will be wearing in 2008/09.

He told evertonTV: "The home kit has been out for a number of weeks now and so far we have seen a good increase in sales year on year.

"Hopefully the fans like it and that is all we can ask for.

"The tradition of the club is very important. We always try and push the boundaries out a little but you have to stick to the traditional themes. The process on a new kit can start nine to 10 months ahead of a kit being delivered in the month of June. We are already starting to put some ideas together for next year whilst we are over here.

"We do things very much hand-in-hand with the club. They give us an initial brief and we put some designs together and then come back to the club to talk through the options. We come back to the sign-off stage in September."

Marsters believes the success of the second strip illustrates why such long-term planning is necessary.

He added:  "We have a certain amount of colours we can use for an away kit but white depicts the quality and detail within the shirt. The fans have voted with their feet and we have had a good increase in sales year on year so we believe we have made the right choices for the club and that is what we will continue to do."

To see this interview in full, visit evertonTV now.