SponsorSinkingship

As the ink dries on the Clydesdale Bank's £8m sponsorship deal with the ever-glamorous SPL, the SFL limps on without a sponsor. Ok, so this week Tennent's have also given notice to end their Scottish Cup deal (a new sponsor will be announced in good time I'd imagine) in favour of the Scottish National team but our own SFL Challenge Cup competition, which isn't open to the ever-glamorous SPL teams, hasn't had a sponsor at all this season.

The money from the sponsorship of both the SFL and the Challenge Cup must provide relatively decent income streams to clubs like Berwick and without it the reliance on gate receipts is ever greater. Let's face it, we are a 'small' club - but we're not alone - half the SFL teams averaged less than 800 a game last season. Making the books balance is tough but necessary if these clubs are to continue - most seem to manage one way or another but no doubt the extra cash & the ability to plan knowing that money is coming wouldn't go amiss.

There have been some laughable cup names created through sponsorship - the Johnstone's Paint Trophy being the latest one in England. To be honest though, the SFL shouldn't be so proud as to turn down any companies who fancy putting money their way. Beggars can't be choosers.

That assumes someone is actually attracted to putting money into what appears to be a stale and withering SFL. Right now it would appear not. I'm surely not alone in believing, while the SPL2 idea is atrocious and a short sighted closed shop which through ridiculous stadium criteria denies most clubs one of the fundamentals of football, the SFL does need a good shake up. Let's hope that regular discussion continues on some fresh ideas which bring the SFL into the 21st century. Don't hold your breath though.