Manchester City are working towards becoming not just one of the world's great football clubs but a sporting giant as well.

That was the message delivered today by club brand and marketing officer David Pullan.

The landscape at Eastlands has changed remarkably following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last year.

That was emphasised on Tuesday with the £12million arrival of established England midfielder Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

Behind the scenes there is considerable activity as well with City today announcing a 10-year partnership with Umbro.

Pullan is excited about the future and says he is not concerned about living and competing alongside Manchester United.

He told PA Sport: "I do not really think about it. One of my former bosses used to say 'Worry about the things you can affect'. That is a very good mantra to live by.

"I cannot affect what they do and how they operate and I'm not going to worry. We will do what is right for our club and our supporters.

"Hopefully in the long term that will bring us to a level of success that is comparable to the best sporting clubs in the world. That is our ambition."

Pullan believes the supporters are beginning to believe the club are ready to step up a level thanks to unprecedented levels of investment from the owners.

He said: "I have been here for just over three months and it has been a fantastic ride already. What attracted me was that this is a club going through a very rapid period of transition across the board.

"It is a very exciting time to be around Manchester City. We really feel there is a sense of momentum building which the supporters are beginning to pick up on.

"From a marketing perspective it is a great place to be. This club has a fantastic history, a loyal fan base and we need to build on that locally, nationally and internationally."

Part of the deal with Umbro is that they will supply home, away and third City kits for the 2009-10 season.

Pullan added: "They are a company with very deep roots in the city. It is very much consistent with our club and how we feel about our role in Manchester. We share an agenda.

"Both of us have been acquired by much bigger organisations with deep pockets and big ambitions. We have a similar desire and aspirations to grow and become more successful.

"We have a commitment to building a successful and sustainable club for the future and a big part of that is around innovation."

Umbro spokesman Martin Prothero said: "This is an exciting opportunity for both Umbro and Manchester City to build on their collective heritage and create truly iconic football brands."