Betfred pot busts the £2m barrier

SCOTTISH clubs will share in a Betfred Cup bonanza that has broken the £2m barrier for the first time.

It comes after the SPFL confirmed total prize and TV money will increase by 15 per cent, including a record £250,000 for the winners.

And more than £1.6m will be paid in prize money, and almost £500,000 in TV payments.

This equates to an overall prize and television pot of £2,073,000 – a substantial increase on £1.8m last season.

The Betfred Cup introduced a new format last season which was widely acclaimed by clubs, players, managers, supporters and the media.

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “Thanks to the support of all clubs, the Betfred Cup has been transformed into a truly exciting and innovative competition.

“We’re thrilled that it has been further boosted by this significant increase in prize and television money, firmly cementing the Betfred Cup as a key competition in Scottish football.”

The eight clubs who finish in fifth position in the first round group stage will each receive £17,000 in prize money, while eight fourth place finishers will take home £19,000 each and the eight teams in third place in the group stage will earn £21,000 per club.

Each of the four runners-up with the lowest points total will win £25,000 in prize money and second round losers will receive £35,000.

The four who lose at the next stage of the competition will win £60,000 each and semi-final losers will receive £80,000. The runner-up will earn £115,000.

Each of the 12 clubs involved in a BT Sport televised group stage match will earn £12,500.

Those clubs taking part in the live final will earn £32,000 in TV payments, while those taking part in the remaining six televised matches will receive £21,500 each.