Comment: More money to be made playing with the big boys

IN THE First Division, Ross County currently has gates of around 2,500 but that is expected to increase by an average of 1,000 in the SPL, with big games against Rangers and Celtic guaranteed sell-outs.

Ross County’s current income is around £1.4 million a year. Based on Inverness Caley Thistle’s experience, I would expect County’s average attendance to increase in the SPL to about 3,500 per game. There will almost certainly be full houses of 6,200 for the Celtic, Rangers and Inverness games. That would increase the annual income by about £550,000 to just under £2m. However, that will be an underestimate if SPL prices are higher than those this season.

It’s possible the club’s income could reach about £2.5m next season, although that is probably an underestimate because there will be more visiting fans for the SPL games, not just from Celtic and Rangers, who may spend more than local supporters, particularly if they stay overnight.

There will also be lucrative earnings for Ross County through live televised games, as well as benefits for club sponsors, and Dingwall itself thanks to increased publicity and exposure from membership of the SPL.

The coverage and publicity of being in the Premier League will be a massive boost to the local economy through tourism. Dingwall and Ross-shire will have a much higher profile, appearing in national papers and on television week in, week out.

• Tony Mckay is an economist with Mackay Consultants