The Scottish Professional Football League confirmed Utilita Energy will take over as the new "official presenting partner" of the Scottish League Cup for the remainder of the current season in a deal worth £200,000 ($309,500), according to the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The tournament -- which according to reports "is due for a summer revamp" -- has been without a main sponsor since the Scottish Government's backing ended in '13. Pre-pay energy Utilita's sponsorship takes effect immediately and "will cover this month's quarter-finals as well as the semis and final of this season's 70th Scottish League Cup competition" (DAILY RECORD, 10/14). SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster said, "As an ambitious and growing business, Utilita is a perfect fit for the competition" (BBC, 10/14).
RADICAL PLANS: In Glasgow, Keith Jackson reported the SPFL "will reveal radical plans to overhaul the entire tournament in time for next season." The SPFL is "set to press ahead with proposals to give the competition a massive revamp which will effectively bring summer football to Scotland as early as next year." Talks between the clubs "are already at an advanced stage with a broad agreement to reintroduce group stages which will begin in July, weeks ahead of the next league campaign." It is anticipated that the group stages will be regionalized, "which could result in a number of high profile derby matches in the likes of Dundee, Edinburgh and the Highlands" (DAILY RECORD, 10/14).
