The SPFL ‘s biggest ever sponsorship deal is in jeopardy after falling foul of Douglas Park.
The Ibrox chairman is less than thrilled that used car company cinch now have a sponsorship deal that requires their logo to be seen on the blue Castore first team jersey.
During the seventies and eighties Parks of Hamilton grew into one of the biggest car traders in the west of Scotland with showrooms in every significant town and throughout Glasgow.
In recent years Armnold Clark has dominated the market with online firms like webuyanycar and cinch coming in to make their presence felt online. Park’s still plough much of their budget into old style advertising such as pages in The Herald.
In June the SPFL announced a five year deal with cinch that would see perimeter advertising at every stadium, their logo on the backdrop for interviews and crucially their logo on the shirt of every team in the country.
Having sunk millions into the loss making Ibrox club it would have been painful for Park to see a rival brand advertised on his side’s shirt, rather than deal with the issue he is putting the sponsorship lifeline to every club in the country at risk.
The Sun reports:
As part of the five-year agreement, clubs must prominently display the company’s logo at games. That includes the Cinch branding on the shirt sleeves of jerseys and on interview backdrops.
However, Rangers faced Livingston at Ibrox without Cinch appearing on their shirts or around the stadium. There was also no player named the ‘cinch Man of the Match’, as agreed by every other club in the country.
It’s believed Gers and the SPFL have been in talks over the issue for weeks regarding “the fulfilment of rights obligations”. But Rangers, whose chairman Douglas Park owns a car sales business, have pinpointed issues with the contract.
It’s understood Gers’ lawyers are convinced they are within their rights to refuse to comply and are refusing to back down.
Gers’ lawyers are also fighting a losing battle with Sports Direct.
Since 2012 clubs from Ibrox have had a separate rule book to deal with the football authorities.