WIGAN, England - A shirt sponsor of English club Wigan is ending its deal with the second-tier team following its decision to hire a manager who is under investigation for offensive comments.

Malky Mackay was hired by Wigan on Wednesday even though the English Football Association is looking into a dossier from his time as Cardiff manager, when Mackay sent text messages he acknowledged were "completely unacceptable, inappropriate."

Premier Range, which sponsors the back of Wigan's shirts, released a statement on Thursday saying "we are breaking our ties" with the club because the "recent appointment of Malky Mackay has put us in a position that we find untenable."

The company said Mackay's text messages "are at odds with the general ethos here at Premier Range."

Wigan has also been criticized by English football's anti-discrimination organization, Kick It Out, for hiring Mackay.