Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Premier League (SPL), has said that the new Scottish Professional Football League structure will benefit negotiations over a new title sponsorship deal for the top division.
A deal was agreed on Tuesday to bring the top-tier SPL and Scottish Football League back together after their split to become two separate bodies 15 years ago.
Doncaster believes that the revamp will help the process of finding a replacement for Clydesdale Bank, which has ended its six-year deal as the title sponsor of the top flight.
"The discussions on a new title sponsor remain ongoing and clearly (Tuesday’s) announcement can only be of assistance in discussions with potential sponsors,” Doncaster told the Evening Telegraph newspaper. “It's very, very helpful that a single merged league can talk with one voice and represent all 42 clubs with one voice in conversations with sponsors and broadcasters. Certainly I would expect this would only enhance the value of being associated with football in this country.”