Scotland’s leading football fans’ organisation has called on the SPFL to ensure that supporters feel the benefit of the league’s most lucrative ever commercial deal.
Betting firm Ladbrokes are understood to be spending £2 millon this year and the same next to sponsor all four professional divisions.
SPFL chief excutive Neil Doncaster revealed that hundreds of companies were rejected, and insisted that the Ladbrokes deal was worth the wait after two sponsor-free years.
Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS), which represents supporters’ trusts and groups across the country, last night urged the SPFL to ensure that the new revenue is distributed fairly throughout the country’s leagues and called for ticket prices to be cut.
Head of SDS, Andrew Jenkin, said: “We’re pleased to see fresh revenue come into the game in Scotland and believe this is a reflection of the continued support and interest in it.
“We hope income from streams such as sponsorship can be spent and distributed equally and in a positive manner for the sustainable development of Scottish football. Hopefully an increase in commercial revenue such as this will result in more accessible and affordable ticket prices for fans.”
Doncaster said: “It would have been very easy to grab one of the first offers on the table but the clubs were insistent that they wanted to wait for the right brand, the right fit and the right deal.”