Clydesdale in SPL sponsor talks

Clydesdale Bank is in talks about becoming the new sponsor of the Scottish Premier League.

It could take over from high street rival Bank of Scotland, whose deal runs out next summer, in a multi-million pound investment.

A spokesman confirmed that Clydesdale was negotiating with the SPL and said: "Clydesdale Bank has a strong record on investment in sport and in Scotland.

"However, talks of a done deal are premature."

Newspaper reports had suggested that the bank would be confirmed as £8m backers next week having beat off competition from 02.

A league spokesman refused to confirm or deny the report.

"We have had strong interest, but until a deal is finalised and approved by our member clubs, these discussions remain commercially confidential," he stressed.

The current Bank of Scotland sponsorship deal has run over nine years.

But the bank announced in March it would step down, investing instead in grassroots football.

News of the talks come a week after it was revealed that SPL clubs had made their first collective profit in a decade.