SPFL names Ladbrokes as sponsor in ₤ 4m deal

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has announced that wagering business Ladbrokes will be its primary sponsor from next season.

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

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

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

The Clydesdale Bank sponsored the Scottish Premier League till its agreement ended 2 years ago, choosing not to renew the ₤ 2m-per-year bet9ja's welcome offer.

Funds from that were divided in between 12 clubs.

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

An "absolutely delighted" SPFL president Neil Doncaster informed BBC Scotland: "It is the greatest single ever title sponsorship deal of this promotion code nature in Scotland in 125 years of the Scottish Football League.

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

"It's a deal throughout the whole of the SPFL - the first offer 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 great news for all clubs in Scotland."

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

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

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

"As much of a financial difference, there is a pride concern here," stated Doncaster.

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

"All of it matters and, if you speak to private clubs then I presume they'll see it somewhat various methods.

"But, from our perspective, it's a deal that benefits all 42 clubs and contributes to the status of the league overall."

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 bet9ja's welcome offer a title sponsorship," he stated.

"We are well aware of a few of the financial concerns that have actually affected a few of our member clubs over that duration.

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

"We have actually had numerous deals over the period that we've rejected, but the clubs' stance, which we believe has been vindicated, was they wanted to wait for the best brand name at the ideal money."

Ladbrokes chief executive Jim Mullen included: "We enjoy football so we are happy to be working with the SPFL on one of the finest chances in British sport."

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