ST KILDA has signed a three-year contract believed to be among the most lucrative sponsorship deals in the AFL with international window and door manufacturer Jeld-Wen.

The deal replaces the club's naming-rights partnership with telecommunications company Vodafone, which did not renew its contract at the end of this season.

Jeld-Wen also has global business interests in real estate, resorts and marketing and three years ago acquired Australian company Corinthian Doors, which will sponsor the Saints' coaches.

Club president Greg Westaway said the deal with a global company was among the "key changes" he forecast when his Footy First ticket challenged the former Rod Butterss-led board.

"When we challenged we were approached by (Jeld-Wen), who said they would like to be on board, they liked the direction the club was heading. It's a fantastic foundation for us."

Westaway said the agreement "completes the commitment to Saints members" to secure a major sponsor.

In October the new board vowed to increase spending on the football department after slipping to 11th of the 16 clubs in football expenditure in 2006.

In that year the Saints total football outlay was $11.28 million — $2.27 million behind West Coast, which outlaid the fourth highest amount in its premiership season.

St Kilda and its new sponsor declined to reveal the amount of the deal, reported by Channel Nine last night to be $6 million, but Corinthian Doors managing director Doug Brown said the company looked forward to a long partnership.

"Jeld-Wen are extremely excited to be St Kilda Football Club's major sponsorship partner for the next three years and hopefully beyond as well," he said.

The new deal includes company logos on the front and back of St Kilda's jumper, the coach's box and coaches' shirt collars.

St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser, who last month announced that the club would "break even at best" in 2007, said it was thrilled to add a global brand to its sponsorship.