SPFL Names Ladbrokes as Sponsor In ₤ 4m Deal

SPFL names Ladbrokes as sponsor in ₤ 4m offer


The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has revealed that wagering 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 expose any figures, Ladbrokes said the offer was the greatest of its kind in Scottish football.


The SPFL has lacked a sponsor because 2013 when the league was reorganized.


The Clydesdale Bank sponsored the Scottish Premier League till its agreement expired 2 years back, electing not to renew the ₤ 2m-per-year offer.


Funds from that were divided in between 12 clubs.


The new deal will result in the Scotland's leagues become called the Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 at the start of the brand-new season in August.


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


"So it's extremely significant, I believe, financially.


"It's a deal across the whole of the SPFL - the first deal of its kind - and all 42 clubs will benefit through the ladder mechanism set out in the guidelines.


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


The new deal takes the total SPFL prize-money fund to ₤ 20m.


Next season's Premiership champions will get an additional ₤ 268,000 as a result, with the Championship winners getting ₤ 45,000 more.


At the bottom end of the scale, the group completing bottom of League Two will make their club an extra ₤ 3,600.


"As much of a financial distinction, there is a pride issue here," said Doncaster.