BetVictor to end sponsorship of Northern, Southern and Isthmian Premier Leagues

The Isthmian Premier League have released a statement announcing that BetVictor have opted to activate the break clause in their contract.

This will mean that their sponsorship of the Northern, Southern and Isthmian leagues will cease on 9th July. An official statement says the decision was made in early March meaning it was not influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement sent out to clubs in the Isthmian League reads: “BetVictor have terminated the sponsorship for a number of reasons, but mainly due to the fact that the increasing compliance restrictions and challenges faced in their first seven months outweighed the benefits they were drawing from the sponsorship. However, the escalating negativity towards betting in football did not help, nor did – most disappointingly – compliance breaches by clubs in and outside of the Isthmian League.

“Although the search for a new sponsor has began, the COVID-19 crisis makes it very difficult to engage meaningfully with potential replacements. So, as of now, the leagues operating at Step 3 and 4 have no main sponsor for season 2020/21.”

Isthmian League Chairman Nick Robinson stated:

"We are very disappointed that this decision was made as it means that we are not able to develop the relationship with the sponsor. We are actively looking for a new sponsor, but are apprehensive at this time due to the general economic downturn due to Covid-19. We believe we have a good and marketable product which has attracted sponsors for nearly 40 years, and we hope will continue to do so once we are able to restart the League.”