SFL remains vigilant to vulnerability of members

Published on Thursday 4 June 2009 22:53

SCOTTISH Football League chief executive David Longmuir has admitted some of his organisation's 30 member clubs remain vulnerable to closure in the current financial climate.

Yesterday's first round draw at Hampden for the 2009-10 Co-operative Insurance Cup formally marked the start of a two-year extension to a sponsorship agreement worth an estimated 2million a season to the SFL.

Added to Irn-Bru's backing of the three SFL divisions, and BBC Alba's sponsorship of the Challenge Cup, it provides a solid commercial base for the clubs outwith the SPL.

As satisfied as Longmuir is with the deals in place, however, he accepts that the prospect of some clubs going out of business cannot be discounted.

"We can never be complacent about that kind of thing," said Longmuir. "We have clubs with individual issues, we know that. All we can do is try to support them and generate as much revenue as we can.

"We can provide a stable income stream centrally from the SFL, but they still have to do a lot on their own. They have to manage their own budgets and cost base. We will try and add to the pot, but it's a two-way street.

"Our clubs operate on shoestring budgets. They have wage bills that wouldn't be allowed in most other businesses, with up to 70 per cent of turnover on cost. That's a football disease, if you like.

"What we have tried to do is maximise the income and bring in sponsors who are credible and Scottish. We had to talk to sponsors about what we could do for them as well.

"We have an entertaining, enjoyable product and lots of loyal customers.

"We have just had an excellent season commercially, up more than 20 per cent on the previous year. In the current climate, that's absolutely fantastic.

"I know the next year is going to be much tougher and my motto now is to protect what we have got and make sure we give as much value as we can. If you lose the sponsors you have, then it will be a real struggle to replace them."

The first round of next season's Co-operative Insurance Cup has been switched to a Saturday and a bid to raise attendances at the 16 ties on 1 August will see free admission for under-16s accompanied by a paying adult.

Yesterday's draw produced a Fife derby between East Fife and Raith Rovers, while Annan Athletic journey to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Two SPL clubs are involved, with St Mirren away to East Stirling and newly promoted St Johnstone at Stenhousemuir. Both of those ties will take place at Ochilview, so one will be switched to Sunday, 2 August.