League Cup sponsorship comes to end after 12 years

LESS than a week after four football clubs were urged to show more respect for the tournament sponsors after failing to send representatives to the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final draw at Hampden, the sponsors have announced they will not be renewing their deal.

Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir issued a public rebuke to Rangers, Motherwell, Dundee United and Falkirk over their no-shows, with clubs citing busy schedules and short notice as reasons for not turning up. Last night both the SFL and sponsor were at pains to stress that the end of the arrangement was not connected to last week's events.

A statement from the sponsors, who have put 15 million into Scottish football over the last 12 years, said: "The Co-operative Insurance sponsorship of the Scottish League Cup has been extremely successful and has played an important role in our marketing strategy.

"We would like to thank the Scottish Football League, the SFL and SPL clubs, the Scottish sports media and the many thousands of football fans for their support over the past 12 years."

Longmuir said: "Obviously I'm disappointed, but I fully understand and accept the decision. As a strong sponsor of Scottish football, Co-operative Insurance will be missed and I wish them every success in the future."

Sponsorship manager of the insurance company, Aileen Walters, said: "It had nothing at all to do with what happened at the draw last week. It is purely a business decision."

Meanwhile, the dates for the quarter finals have been set, with Aberdeen v Falkirk and Motherwell v Dundee United on Tuesday 26 October, and St Johnstone v Celtic and Kilmarnock v Rangers on Wednesday 27 October. All kick-offs are 7:45pm, except St Johnstone v Celtic, which kicks off at 7:30pm and will be televised live on BBC Scotland.