The SPL was formed in 1998, as a
breakaway from the old First Division of Scottish football, and a way of making
revenue streams more profitable for the top flight.
breakaway from the old First Division of Scottish football, and a way of making
revenue streams more profitable for the top flight.
The Scottish Premier League had two
sponsors down the years, with the Bank of Scotland and later the Clydesdale
Bank partnering the top flight.
sponsors down the years, with the Bank of Scotland and later the Clydesdale
Bank partnering the top flight.
However, there is absolutely no
coincidence that Rangers’ plight coincided with the end of sponsorship in the
summer of 2013. Rangers were voted out in summer 2012, and a year later the top
flight lost its sponsorship, and has not managed to acquire any since.
coincidence that Rangers’ plight coincided with the end of sponsorship in the
summer of 2013. Rangers were voted out in summer 2012, and a year later the top
flight lost its sponsorship, and has not managed to acquire any since.
The SPFL’s commercial director,
Scott Steedman, has even managed to embarrass himself with the following
soundbite on the subject:
Scott Steedman, has even managed to embarrass himself with the following
soundbite on the subject:
“I am confident that we will have someone in
place, there is no reason why that
should not happen.”
place, there is no reason why that
should not happen.”
Other than his remarkable failure
to have any in place over the past 12 months (he was appointed in April 2014),
none at all!
to have any in place over the past 12 months (he was appointed in April 2014),
none at all!
“We are in talks with several companies,
some of which are at different stages than others. It’s not a bad position to
be in and I would say that there is no way we won’t have a new sponsor announced
fairly soon.”
some of which are at different stages than others. It’s not a bad position to
be in and I would say that there is no way we won’t have a new sponsor announced
fairly soon.”
Not exactly convincing. Reading between the
lines, he is desperately trying to hawk a dismal product off to lower-tier
companies, none of whom are interested in an SPL without Rangers.
lines, he is desperately trying to hawk a dismal product off to lower-tier
companies, none of whom are interested in an SPL without Rangers.
The Sun today does claim Steedman has been negotiating a million+ figure sponsorship with bookmakers BetFred (quite a step down from the reputable banks of the past), but the fact it has taken 24 months (including well over a year by Steedman himself) to get to this stage gives some idea of just how unnattractive a prospect the SPFL now is.
Scottish football, as a product,
is garbage enough as it is, but the Old Firm always was, and always will be,
the lifeblood of the sport up here. Without it, the game in Scotland is in
borderline ruin.
is garbage enough as it is, but the Old Firm always was, and always will be,
the lifeblood of the sport up here. Without it, the game in Scotland is in
borderline ruin.
“Whether or not Rangers come through the
play-offs won’t affect negotiations because we are not selling the Old Firm –
we are selling a 42-club solution.”
play-offs won’t affect negotiations because we are not selling the Old Firm –
we are selling a 42-club solution.”
Yes, because the whole package
has been remarkably attractive for the past 24 months since Rangers disappeared
from the top flight…
has been remarkably attractive for the past 24 months since Rangers disappeared
from the top flight…
The desperation from Scottish
football’s hierarchies to have Rangers back at the top is countered only by
their embarrassing refusal to admit it.
football’s hierarchies to have Rangers back at the top is countered only by
their embarrassing refusal to admit it.
You're right, no one and certainly none of the big guns appears to be interested in the SPFL if Rangers aren't involved. Like you say, whether the governing bodies want to admit it or not, it's all about the Rangers.
The stupidities of ScottIsh football mirrors , sadly, Scottish society. Rangers should not have been sold to Whyte, the banks forced it on Murray, who had himself been allowed too much leeway by said bank. The HMRCs position on EBTs is questionable to say the least. But Rangers should never have used them. But then many businesses did.
Comments are closed.