SPORTSassist brokers football club sponsorship

A football club is set to benefit from the sponsorship of a local firm thanks to the work of SPORTSassist.

Edina Hibs boys’ club is one of the earliest amateur teams in the country to engage in a new scheme devised by the initiative which will see teams and their sponsors work together to create greater funds.

However, their sponsor, the Dalkeith-based Rothco Group, is also set to benefit from the arrangement.

In place of the traditional flat sponsorship fee, the boys’ club is planned to receive a proportion of the profits achieved by the financial organisation.

Consequently the members of the club will have a vested interest in promoting the services of the financial body, the Evening News explains.

David Borrowman, managing partner at law firm Caesar and Howie and head of the SPORTSassist project, commented: "It is a great way of giving sponsorship to clubs on a long-term basis. The harder the clubs work, the more money they get, it is as simple as that."

Mr Borrowman estimates that through the word of mouth sponsorship arrangements, amateur clubs could gain significant sums in sponsorship each year.

Edina Hibs boys’ club secretary Steve Ponton added: "We have previously had some sponsorship from Rothco Group, but their involvement with SPORTSassist will give us a real boost."

SPORTSassist has also been involved in such projects as the creation of the new Scottish Premier Hockey League, splitting the country’s game into two leagues in the hope of preparing the teams for international fixtures.