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SPFL chief Doncaster offers major hint that bumper new deal to replace Cinch is close as Rangers row lessons learned
The SPFL chief executive has been speaking in a live TV interview today
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster says he's "optimistic" the league will be able to celebrate a new and improved deal with fresh title sponsors this summer.
Cinch have announced that they are moving on as the league's title sponsor at the end of this season, having exercised their right to walk away from the league after three years of a five-year deal.
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That has caused a scramble to replace them and in a live radio appearance, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has hinted strongly that a new title sponsor is close at hand - with more money coming back to clubs.
Doncaster said: "In terms of sponsorship, it's challenging sponsorship environment.
"Any of our 42 member clubs would tell you the same.
"Cinch are coming out of the contract this summer and I am optimistic that we will have a replacement sponsor for the start of the new season.
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"I'm not going to tell you when.
"But I'm optimistic we will have a sponsor in place for next season.
"Brendan Napier is the director of football marketing. That has been one of the inventions that Ron Gordon, god bless him, brought to the table.
"He was keen that we should work together to try to maximise sponsorship.
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"The Scottish FA, the SPFL and the SWPL all work together, we pull much of our inventory. Brendan Napier goes out on behalf of the entire sixth floor at Hampden. "
Asked specifically if the next arrangement could be bigger than the cinch deal for clubs, he said: "I certainly hope so, but I am not going to give it away.
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"You don't announce it until you have something to announce. But I am hopeful that will be the case."
The Cinch deal led to a number of court cases relating to Rangers - who argued that it produced a conflict with one of their main backers, Park's Motor Group.
Doncaster said: "We've drawn a line under that. I am delighted with the way we've been able to work with all member clubs, including Rangers, since drawing a line under that dispute.
"It's been very helpful having James Bisgrove on the board.
"I think he and John Bennett are doing what they can to strengthen relationships across the game and I think that's important for all of us."
"It’s important to have everyone on the same page. It’s important we look back and see what we could have done better.
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"We undertook a governance review which was carried out independently and one of the areas looked at is what can we do in terms of the rules to prevent a situation like that happening again."
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