Meet the fridge magnate who's putting £2m into the Scottish Cup for no return

GOVERNMENTAL intervention in economic crises extended to Scottish football yesterday when Holyrood, in alliance with Glasgow businessman Willie Haughey, took over the sponsorship of the Scottish Cup, in the process easing the financial burden of the SFA.

Haughey, the owner of Glasgow business City Refrigeration, is taking the remarkable step of putting up £1 million a year over the next two years without wanting the naming rights, allowing the Scottish Government to use the Homecoming 2009 banner in the re-branding of the competition as the Homecoming Scottish Cup. The Homecoming programme will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and, through it, the government aims to promote healthy living and good citizenship, among other causes.

The national association, guardians of the country's oldest tournament, had been forced to support the cup to the tune of £1.25 million a year since Tennent's ended its long association in 2007, but that expenditure will be limited to two seasons as the new sponsorship kicks in next year.

"We have to thank Willie Haughey for this," said Alex Salmond, First Minister. "His philanthropy has made it possible, giving the government full branding and naming rights. Without his support, it wouldn't have happened. For us, it was a no-brainer to be associated with this iconic trophy. Football is our national sport and the biggest of all, so it's great to have this associated with the Homecoming initiative.

"This tournament is seen in 40 countries throughout the world, so it may even help turn a potential tourism recession into a tourism boom."

Haughey added: "We all want Scotland to prosper as a country, our people to be healthier and, of course, to keep on producing great footballers. I have made this investment today so that we can work to make this happen."

George Peat, the SFA president, and chief executive Gordon Smith were clearly relieved at having found a sponsor after a search that has lasted two years. In the current economic climate, there were fears that the association would have to continue to underwrite its flagship competition with money that could be used for development. "We could have gone on supporting the tournament because our new television agreement starts in 2010 and that will bring in substantial revenue," Smith said. "But being relieved of that obligation means that more money can be ploughed into the development of the game, which is the SFA's main purpose.

"Even before the credit crunch, it was a tough economic climate for us, because there are so few head offices of big companies in Scotland now. Another difficulty was that Tennent's had been sponsors for so long, potential sponsors were uneasy that they would continue to be identified with it.

"The government couldn't have put up the money themselves, so Willie Haughey deserves great credit, especially as he waived his naming rights."

A spokesman for Mr Salmond said that the Scottish Government would be investing "a modest amount" into the cup, mainly marketing costs to promote the competition and its sponsorship.

PROFILE

WILLIE Haughey is the executive chairman of City Refrigeration Holdings, a successful Glasgow-based business that reported a turnover of £230 million last year. The company is 98 per cent owned by its founders Haughey and his wife Susan, and has grown to employ 10,500 people through its servicing of the licensed trade and retail outlets.

Haughey, OBE, has a long association with Scottish football. He was a Celtic director between 1994 and 1997 and has previously invested in Livingston Football Club. Recently he has been involved in the redevelopment of the Lesser Hampden ground and was looking for a way to fund youth football after the financial crisis hit plans for an academy in Bothwell.

The 52-year-old is a donor to the Labour Party, and spoke out against independence last year.