Celtic won't lose money as SPFL release statement on sponsor dispute with rivals

By David Walton

June 15, 2022

Celtic and others won’t lose sponsorship money after the SPFL finally managed to resolve their dispute with Rangers over the Cinch agreement.

Our rivals refused to wear the primary league sponsor’s branding last season and also refused to advertise it within their stadium. In addition to that, Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was left doing post-match media interviews with the Cinch logo taped over in what was an embarrassing look [Football Scotland].

It was feared that Rangers’ refusal to co-operate in advertising the Cinch brand could’ve potentially seen other clubs in the Premiership robbed of key sponsorship cash.

However, the SPFL have today confirmed that they’ve reached an agreement with their sponsors to end the dispute. In a statement released today, Neil Doncaster said: “Under the terms of the revised cinch contract, Rangers are no longer required to participate by providing the sponsorship inventory that they have so far not provided, whilst, crucially, the overall income to Scottish football is expected to remain materially unchanged over the original five-year term of the sponsorship.

“This revised package has now been approved by cinch Premiership clubs. It’s extremely good news that we have been able to work with our partners at cinch to develop an updated sponsorship package which delivers the same level of financial support to Scottish football, whilst providing additional SPFL media assets to cinch to compensate for loss of Rangers related rights. It is testament to the strength of our relationship with cinch, and the high value they place on it, that they have agreed to move forward with us on this basis.

“This deal gives us further confidence that we will exceed our budget and deliver fees to clubs of more than £27.5 million for Season 2021/22.”

Celtic and other Scottish clubs won’t miss out as dispute ends

Finally Celtic and fans of other clubs are finally able to hear about an end to this tiresome saga involving Cinch and Rangers. It looks as though this will be an agreement that satisfies everyone.

Rangers are no longer required to participate in what they feel is a direct conflict with an existing deal they have in place with their chairman Douglas Park’s firm. Meanwhile, nobody else in Scotland is now going to be affected with Cinch agreeing a revised contract that sees money heading the way of Scottish clubs regardless.

It was claimed after Celtic’s title win that concerns had been eased at Hampden regarding Cinch’s sponsorship deal with the league [The Times, print edition, 21/05, Sports supplement]. The Cinch branding was plastered around Celtic Park on trophy day – something that will no doubt have pleased the sponsors.

In truth, there’s certainly been plenty of awareness of the Cinch brand this season. They’ve certainly been receiving plenty of visibility with everything that’s gone on.

It would’ve been a real blow for many clubs across the Premiership if sponsorship money was to have been stripped away from them. Especially with plenty still trying to deal with the damage done by Covid-19.

Hopefully, this whole saga can now be put to bed permanently.

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