Manchester United New Kit 2012/13: Photo Of The New Nike 'Gingham' Shirt That Has Angered Fans

Manchester United has released a sneak peek of their new shirt of next season. And the design has not gone down well with many of the club's fans.

The new Nike designed kit pays tribute to the cotton industry, which was the bed rock of Manchester life when the club was formed in 1878.

Accompanying the image on the club's Facebook page is the statement: In 1878, Manchester was at the heart of the industrial revolution. Steel factories and cotton mills dominated the skyline. This was the year England's most successful team was born. 134 years on, Manchester United celebrates its proud heritage by launching the Gingham Collection.

But the gingham kit with its checkered pattern has received a mixed reaction from supporters posting their views on the club's Facebook page.

One fan, Jimmy Bai, commented, This is the most ugly tablecloth I have ever seen. Others have likened the appearance to that of a tea towel.

A spokesperson for Manchester United has explained the kit's strange design.

It's historical, unusual and a bit different. Gingham was invented in Manchester going back to when it was known for its cotton mills, said the spokesperson, according to the Manchester Eveninig News. Nike went back to look at the history of the club and what was going on in Manchester at the time.

But some supporters have even claimed that the new kit is worse than the club's infamous grey strip of the 1995-96 season. Notoriously, with United 3-0 down to Southampton at half-time, manager Sir Alex Ferguson made his players change shirts, believing that the grey color prevented his players from picking each other out.

It remains to be seen if the new design will be quite as loathed as that one was, but the early signs are not positive.