Cinch is set to conclude its sponsorship of the SPFL by the end of this season, cutting short a five-year agreement just three years in. [STV]
cinch, the car sales platform, had secured what the governing body lauded as the “largest-ever” SPFL sponsorship deal in 2021. Now, with two years left in the contract, the hunt for a new sponsor is underway.
Since its initiation in 2021, cinch has been the chief sponsor for SPFL and its four divisions. The deal was worth approximately £1.5 million annually, a sum distributed among the 42 member clubs.
The sponsorship, however, wasn’t without its controversies, primarily stemming from a prolonged disagreement with the Rangers. The Ibrox side declined to feature cinch’s branding on any promotional materials or merchandise, citing a clash with the car business of their former chairman, Douglas Park’s Park’s of Hamilton.
The conflict spanned nearly two years and eventually found its way to the courts.
The deal was revisited last year. It was decided that Rangers would not be required to showcase any cinch branding. The controversy concluded this past summer, with the SPFL expressing regret for the damages inflicted upon Rangers’ and Park’s reputations.
Yet, in a twist, merely three months post the resolution, cinch has chosen to terminate its association with the SPFL.
