SPFL reveal record £42m turnover leaving Premiership clubs quids in as Euro payments set to soar

The SPFL has announced the highest turnover in the league governing body's history.

And that means clubs are quids in, with annual payments increasing by seven per cent - £1million - to £31.7m. Total distributions to clubs has also gone up by over £2million, from £33.7million to £38.5million. Scotland's Euro qualifiers will see their payments increase too. Celtic qualified for the group stage of this season's Champions League, while Rangers dropped from the qualifiers into the Europa League group stage.

Aberdeen missed out on that, but are at the same stage of the Europa Conference League, Capital duo Hearts and Hibs were eliminated from the qualifiers in the playoff round. Should they all finish in the Euro spots come May, or if surprise package St Mirren maintain their form, then higher UEFA solidarity payments will be making their way into club coffers. SPFL supremo Neil Doncaster hailed the value of the Scottish TV deal and sponsorship agreements.

He said: “This is the first time SPFL turnover has broken the £40 million figure. In tandem with record fee payments to clubs of £31.7 million, these are by far the strongest figures we’ve achieved in the ten-year history of the SPFL. Especially in light of the ongoing economic challenges, today’s figures are testament to the continuing popularity of Scottish football and the growing demand from broadcasters and other partners.

“These record figures have been driven primarily by increases in the values of our partnerships with Sky Sports, BBC Scotland, Infront and Football DataCo and reflect the unique passion and drama of the Scottish game.”

Chairman Murdoch MacLennan added: : “These very encouraging results continue the strong trend of year-on-year improvements over the