Rangers could face ‘grave consequences’ over Scottish government alcohol proposal
Rangers could face “grave consequences” should the Scottish Government decide to enforce a ban on alcohol sponsorship, according to SPFL chief Neil Doncaster.
The Herald (1 December) has taken a deeper dive into the Gers’ finances, with the club’s revenue rising to £86.8m in 2022. Rangers’ resurgence has been aided by their run to the European final and the £4.25m compensation fee paid by Aston Villa for Steven Gerrard.
Despite the financial stability off the field, Doncaster has suggested tougher times could well be around the corner for Scottish clubs, with a number of “challenges” still remaining.
“These remain very challenging times for all businesses and football clubs are no different,” said Doncaster(quoted by The Herald, 1 December).
“Scottish clubs showed great resilience during the trials of the pandemic and are working hard to continue their recovery from what was a once-in-a-generation disruption to their business model.
“Welcoming back crowds, who make up a far higher proportion of the annual revenue in Scottish football than elsewhere, was a very welcome development, as are the new broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and our agreement with title sponsors cinch.
“However, a number of major challenges remain, not least the Scottish Government’s proposed ban on alcohol sponsorship, which would have extremely grave consequences for the finances of many sports, including ours.”
Financially stable
It’s been a rocky decade for the Gers on the financial front, so it’s refreshing to see the club running sustainably and making increases in revenue year after year. It’s sometimes difficult for fans to accept, but the board’s shrewdness when it comes to the money invested in players could well be the reason why Rangers are in a good place when it comes to balancing the books.
The proposed ban is an interesting talking point and will undoubtedly have an impact on a number of Scottish clubs and sports, not just Rangers. It’s clear the proposal has been made to reduce the amount of drunk and disorderly behaviour in the future, but realistically, people in the United Kingdom will still be having drink regardless of whether it’s advertised or not.
For Rangers, it’s going to be intriguing to see how they back Michael Beale in the upcoming transfer markets. The club seem to be in a good position off the field and could well loosen the purse strings in the summer to allow the 42-year-old to really shape a title-winning side.
In other Rangers news, this Auchenhowie teenager is attracting the eyes of Premier League giants as the club get desperate to hold onto him.