SPFL names Ladbrokes as sponsor in ₤ 4m offer

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

The two-year bet9ja's welcome offer, believed to be worth a little over ₤ 4m, includes rights across all 4 leagues and 42 clubs.

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

The SPFL has actually been without a sponsor considering that 2013 when the league was reorganized.

The Clydesdale Bank sponsored the Scottish Premier League up until its contract expired 2 years earlier, choosing not to renew the ₤ 2m-per-year offer.

Funds from that were divided between 12 clubs.

The new deal will lead to the Scotland's leagues become known as 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 president Neil Doncaster told BBC Scotland: "It is the greatest single ever title sponsorship offer of this promotion code nature in Scotland in 125 years of the Scottish Football League.

"So it's hugely substantial, I believe, financially.

"It's a deal throughout the whole of the SPFL - the first bet9ja's welcome offer of its kind - and all 42 clubs will benefit through the ladder system set out in the rules.

"On all those levels, I think 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 champions will get an extra ₤ 268,000 as a result, with the Championship winners receiving ₤ 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 monetary distinction, there is a pride problem here," stated Doncaster.

"To have a league sponsored with a business like Ladbrokes - an extremely appreciated blue-chip UK company - who wish to sit along with you and establish the video game in Scotland is hugely considerable as well.

"It all matters and, if you speak with specific clubs then I think they'll see it a little various ways.

"But, from our perspective, it's an offer that benefits all 42 clubs and contributes to the prestige of the yohaig code league overall."

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

"It has actually not been the most convenient time to go out and sell a title sponsorship," he said.

"We are aware of some of the financial concerns that have actually affected some of our member clubs over that period.

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

"We have had numerous offers over the duration that we've turned down, but the clubs' stance, which we think has actually been vindicated, was they wanted to wait on the right brand name at the best cash."

Ladbrokes president Jim Mullen included: "We like football so we are delighted to be working with the SPFL on among the very best opportunities in British sport."

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