SPFL Names Ladbrokes as Sponsor In ₤ 4m Deal

SPFL names Ladbrokes as sponsor in ₤ 4m offer

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has actually revealed that betting company Ladbrokes will be its main sponsor from next season.

The two-year offer, thought to be worth a little over ₤ 4m, consists of rights across all four leagues and 42 clubs.

While it did not reveal any figures, Ladbrokes said the deal was the most significant of its kind in Scottish football.

The SPFL has been without a sponsor given that 2013 when the league was restructured.

The Clydesdale Bank sponsored the Scottish Premier League until its contract ended 2 years back, electing not to restore the ₤ 2m-per-year offer.

Funds from that were divided between 12 clubs.

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The new offer will lead to the Scotland's leagues end up being called the Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 at the start of the new season in August.

An "definitely thrilled" SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster told BBC Scotland: "It is the most significant single ever title sponsorship deal of this promotion code nature in Scotland in 125 years of the Scottish Football League.

"So it's extremely considerable, I believe, economically.

"It's an bet9ja's welcome offer across the whole of the SPFL - the very first bet9ja's welcome offer of its kind - and all 42 clubs will benefit through the ladder mechanism set out in the guidelines.

"On all those levels, I believe it's excellent news for all clubs in Scotland."

The brand-new offer takes the overall SPFL prize-money fund to ₤ 20m.

Next season's Premiership champs will get an extra ₤ 268,000 as an outcome, with the Championship winners getting ₤ 45,000 more.

At the bottom end of the yohaig code scale, the team ending up bottom of League Two will earn their club an extra ₤ 3,600.

"As much of a monetary difference, there is a pride problem here," said Doncaster.

"To have actually a league sponsored with a business like Ladbrokes - a hugely respected blue-chip UK company - who desire to sit alongside you and establish the game in Scotland is extremely substantial as well.

"It all matters and, if you speak with private clubs then I believe they'll see it somewhat various ways.

"But, from our viewpoint, it's a deal that benefits all 42 clubs and adds to the status of the league in general."

Doncaster understood that the SPFL had actually received some criticism for the years without a title sponsor.

"It has not been the easiest time to go out and offer a title sponsorship," he stated.

"We are aware of a few of the financial problems that have actually affected a few of our member clubs over that period.

"But the truth is that we have had a variety of huge brands who wished to partner with us.

"We have actually had different offers over the duration that we've declined, but the clubs' stance, which we believe has actually been vindicated, was they wished to wait for the best brand name at the right cash."

Ladbrokes chief executive Jim Mullen added: "We enjoy football so we are pleased to be working with the SPFL on one of the very best chances in British sport."