Ladbrokes get lucky escape from FA deal

Ladbrokes are surprisingly relaxed about the Fa severing their four-year contract as official bookmaking partners after only one year.

The Fa terminated the £4million-a-year agreement with immediate effect following a management team review of betting relationships.

The review was requested by Fa chairman Greg Clarke. He had been concerned at the double standards of having a gambling partner when forbidding anyone involved in professional football to bet on the sport and cracking down heavily on Joey barton and others who breached regulations. barton is appealing after being banned in april for 18 months.

but the decision has been greeted with some relief by Ladbrokes, who soon realised they had overpaid for the tie-up. Their Fa contract was understood to be costing them double the price predecessors William Hill were paying.

and there was frustration at Ladbrokes that their official Fa status meant they couldn’t run lucrative markets on who would be the next england manager following sam allardyce’s demise.

The press release yesterday announcing the split gave away Ladbrokes’ mood. rather than portraying any disappointment at such an abrupt ending, it was said to be by ‘mutual agreement’. and Ladbrokes Ceo Jim Mullen added: ‘We understand the Fa’s position.’

eleven of the Premier League clubs had bookmaker-related sponsorships last season while sky bet sponsor all three divisions in the Football League. but none of those deals will be affected.

More sensitive in the light of the Fa move is William Hill’s backing of the scottish Fa Cup, but scottish Fa chief executive stewart regan said: ‘We are contracted to 2020 and have an excellent relationship with our partner.’