Rangers fans have been reacting to the news that Glen’s Vodka will be a new partner of the SPFL after a deal between the two was announced.
The Scottish spirit company has teamed up with the under-fire members’ body as they look to boost revenue in an otherwise difficult season at Hampden.
The SPFL and The Loch Lomond Group are delighted to announce a new Official Spirit Partnership which begins from today and will run until the end of Season 2022/23.
— SPFL (@spfl) December 22, 2020
The new deal will run until 2023 and gives Glen’s Vodka, and owners the Loch Lomond group, the exclusive presenting rights for the Player and Manager of the Month awards [SPFL].
Whilst SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster hailed the deal as “an exciting partnership”, Rangers fans have been a little more critical.
The SPFL are also not exactly flavour of the month at Ibrox and both Rangers and their supporters have a salty taste in their mouth about the overpaid governance of Scotland’s national game.
This new deal with Glen’s Vodka – which isn’t exactly a welcome endorsement of woke culture in Scottish football given the nation’s well-established issue with the demon drink – has been the source of much comment from fans across Scotland.
For many, the adoption of a potent alcoholic spirit as a premium sponsor of the nation’s game is the latest calamity in a long-line of them from the SPFL bosses.
It’s not just Rangers fans either – Labour MSP Monica Lennon railed against the sponsorship and claimed “it’s time to blow the whistle” on alcohol advertising in the men’s game [Daily Record].
The fact the league was allowed to kick off without a sponsor – despite chief executive Neil Doncaster raking in over £330k in wages – is a calamity in its own right.
But for some football fans the new deal with Glen’s is a couple of measures short of a full bottle as the supporters once again rail against the Hampden powerbrokers:
https://twitter.com/iJuggernaut6/status/1341355134366920705
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you have gambling, alcohol, fast-food and sugar-rich confectionery sponsors yet no actual main sponsor for any of the leagues. With that record I fully expect that you've got a drug cartel lined up.
— Steven Gray (@drpipingchemist) December 22, 2020
From the country that creates the best whisky in the world, the SPFL have managed to secure GLEN’S VODKA as a sponsor. What a coup
— Ross Downie (@rossd1987) December 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/andrewpc396/status/1341362628308951040
Only the @spfl could go so long without a sponsor and eventually arrive at this one. As if the game in Scotland wasn’t laughed at enough already 😂
— Pete Barber (@PeteBarber17) December 22, 2020
Who on earth thought this was a good idea? Cut price Vodka, for our national sport. Memo to SPFL Board. Give Doncaster three months to have the Commercial Dept. come up with an appropriate alternative, or sack him.
— Ray Hepburn (@RayHepburn1) December 22, 2020
I actually thought it was a joke, how embarrassing for Scottish football ! pic.twitter.com/YBQIBdkFqD
— Roddy Scott (@RoddyScott1) December 22, 2020
First gambling now drink surely there was a better sponsor out there than glens 😂🙈
— Cairn Jamieson (@JamiesonCairn) December 22, 2020
Vodka? Seriously? 🤦♂️
— Malcolm Booden (@malcolmbooden) December 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/smalltownhero/status/1341393320598237187
Promoting vodka at the same time as your own charity @SPFLTrust works to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Totally irresponsible.
— Gary Russell (@garyrussell_) December 22, 2020
Glen's! 😂😂😂😂😂 That sounds about right 😂
— chic 5️⃣5️⃣🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 (@chic_allan) December 22, 2020
Doncaster is just trolling us now, isn't he.
— Stevco (@stevco15) December 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/OnlyAnExcuse/status/1341373339307307009
It’s the latest in a long line of calamities overseen by the SPFL, which has lost the confidence of many Scottish football supporters.
Rangers infamously demanded change at the start of the year but were voted down despite a third of clubs essentially motioning a vote of no confidence against the SPFL.