SPFL posts record turnover as club distributions increase to £42m

The Scottish Professional Football League has posted a record turnover in its annual accounts, with total income breaking the £50m barrier for the first time.

It was revealed on Wednesday that £50.4m was generated over the last year, up from £44.3m in the previous 12 months.

Club distributions increased by £4.1m from £37.9m to £42m, which is the highest figure in the league’s history.

The newly published accounts reveal fees paid to clubs by the SPFL totalled £35.1m.

The increase in group distributions has primarily been driven by an increase in broadcast income.

This includes a rise in revenue from the contract with Sky Sports and the five-season deal agreed with Premier Sports last year to show 20 live Premiership matches a season in the UK and Ireland, which has since risen to 22 games.

The increase in broadcast revenue was supplemented by strong growth in licensing, match data, and sponsorship arrangements.

Last season was the first of a five-year, record-breaking sponsorship deal with William Hill.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to announce the strongest turnover and total group distributions in the history of Scottish league football.

“These figures are by some distance the best financial figures in the 12 years of the SPFL.

“Against a backdrop of worldwide economic uncertainty, the strong cooperation amongst our clubs and a shared focus to continue to grow our game commercially has been vital to achieving these results.

“We’ve recently reported considerably higher attendances per capita than any other European league in a UEFA report for the third year running, and these figures also reflect the high level of interest in our game from broadcasters and partners.

“Whilst we will never be complacent, we are proud that the league continues to make significant progress, and these financial results represent an important milestone in the history of the SPFL.”

Murdoch MacLennan, SPFL chairman, said: “Our latest results once again underline the strength and ambition of our game here in Scotland.

“Our small but dedicated team at the SPFL is focused on driving forward the league for our 42 member clubs and we will now look to build on this momentum in the months and years ahead.”

Group distributions include fees paid to clubs (through the ‘ladder’, which gives a fixed percentage of fees based on where each club finishes in the league), parachute payments, monies paid to ScottishPower Women’s Premier League clubs, prize money in the Premier Sports Cup and KDM Evolution Trophy, and facility fees paid in respect of Premiership matches shown on Premier Sports.