Latest news with #KDMGroup
Edinburgh Reporter
07-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
KDM Group named as new title sponsor of revamped Challenge Cup
The SPFL has agreed a multi-year deal with the Scottish based, internationally operating construction firm as the league reveals further details of its new competition format and a record-breaking prize pot. The title partnership marks another milestone in KDM Group's growing and significant support of Scottish football alongside their Soccer Centre partnership with the Scottish FA and stadium sponsorship of Dunfermline Athletic's KDM Group East End Park. The competition logo, also revealed today, features the illustration of the brand-new competition trophy which has been commissioned by the SPFL and KDM Group to celebrate this exciting new era for one of Scottish football's best loved competitions. The final trophy will be unveiled this summer, in time for the tournament's kick off. An estimated £1.25 million in prize money will be shared with clubs for the 2025/26 KDM Evolution Trophy – an increase of more than 50% on this year's competition. Next season's winners will receive £150,000, with increased prize money at every stage in the competition. Competition format changes were confirmed earlier in the year alongside a new Scottish FA Cooperation System, which is designed to strengthen youth development in the Scottish game. The new set-up will continue to include William Hill Premiership B teams in support of the Scottish FA's aim to provide more opportunities for players in the key 'transition phase' of ages 16-21, as they move from the academy environment to senior football. In a further move to allow the best young players in the country to experience first-team football at an earlier age, youth prospects aged 15 will now be eligible to participate in the competition. The new format includes an opening round league phase and was inspired by UEFA's new club competition formats. The first round league phase will comprise 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 clubs, and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams. Clubs participating in the league phase of the competition will be split into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections, reducing travel costs for clubs and supporters across six league phase matchdays. Points gained by clubs across six league phase matchdays will feed into a single league table, with the top 22 clubs qualifying for the seeded knock-out Round of 32. William Hill Championship clubs will enter the competition from the Round of 32 as seeded clubs, alongside clubs finishing in the top six of the league phase, with the remainder of the competition following a traditional knock-out format. Neil Doncaster, group chief executive of the SPFL, said: 'We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season's competition. 'KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and have already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. They have a proud history of supporting our national sport and thislong-term deal isreally positive newsfor all 42 member clubs. 'We're confident the new competition format will help develop some of our most promising players across the country. Allowing players to compete at a high level from the age of 15 will pay dividends for them, for their clubs and ultimately, for the national side.' The changes to the KDM Evolution Trophy format were made following lengthy consultation with SPFL clubs and the launch of a Scottish FA Transition Phase report last year which sought to establish trends in successful player development from across the world, and those recommendations fed into discussions with clubs, the SPFL and Scottish FA. William Hill Premiership B-teams will play all league phase matches away from home in a further move to reduce travel costs for William Hill League 1 and League 2 clubs and their supporters. Clubs participating in the league phase will also be permitted to play a limited number of trialists to support squad management in the early stages of the season. Doncaster added: 'We've had long discussions with our member clubs and the Scottish FA about this new competition format and we've also introduced some key principles to reduce travel time and costs, particularly for William Hill League 1 and 2 clubs. 'We would lastly like to thank the SPFL Trust and the donors who support them, who have been fantastic supporters of this competition for the last four seasons.' KDM Group offers a variety of construction services to blue chip clients across the UK and Europe, which includes delivery of services such as: general contractor, interior fit-out, mechanical and electrical, manufacturing and design. The company is based in Dalgety Bay, Fife, with regional offices and operations throughout the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Republic of Ireland. Iain Jones, Chief Executive of KDM Group, said: 'We're incredibly proud to support the launch of this exciting new football competition and to see the KDM Evolution Trophy come to life. The name reflects the evolution of our business, from a smallshopfitting company to a leading international brand. It mirrors the journey of this tournament and the aspiring players it supports. Our investment in football spans all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage. 'Through our KDM Group Soccer Centres, we provide primary-aged schoolgirls access to the game whilst having fun, helping to grow the game from the ground up. We've previously been the official partner of the Scottish Cup and are proud sponsors of the Scotland Women's National Team & Dunfermline Athletic FC. 'This new tournament is another step forward, providing a platform for talent to grow and evolve, just as we have.' The full schedule of prize monies for the KDM Evolution Trophy is set out below: Winner – £150,000 Runner up – £100,000 Losing semi-finalists – £75,000 Losing quarter-finalists – £50,000 Round of 16 losers – £40,000 Round of 32 losers – £30,000 1st round (league phase) losers – £15,000-18,500 (depending on final league position) A summary of key competition dates is set out below: League Phase MD1: 12/13 August 2025 League Phase MD2: 26/27 August 2025 League Phase MD3: 6/7 September 2025 League Phase MD4: 23/24 September 2025 League Phase MD5: 11/12 October 2025 League Phase MD6: 11 November 2025 Round of 32: 9/10 December 2025 Round of 16: 6/7 January 2026 Quarter Final: 27/28 January 2026 Semi Final: 24/25 February 2026 Final: 28/29 March 2026 / 4/5 April 2026 Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
SPFL bosses give Challenge Cup biggest redesign yet with new name, Uefa style league phase and 15-year-olds set to play
The competition has been given a facelift - again ALL CHANGE SPFL bosses give Challenge Cup biggest redesign yet with new name, Uefa style league phase and 15-year-olds set to play IT'S had more facelifts than Sharon Osborne and Simon Cowell put together. And now the SPFL have announced the latest cosmetic redesign to the Challenge Cup which they think will give it the X Factor. 2 The new branding for the trophy 2 The rule makers at Hampden have made a major change to the competition Credit: SNS League bosses say that as of 2025-26 the competition last known as the SPFL Trust trophy will now be sponsored by the KDM Group and go by the KDM Evolution Trophy. They say they've announced a multi-year deal with the Scottish-born construction firm and have thanked them for bankrolling a record-breaking prize pot totalling an estimated £1.25m in prize money - a rise of more than 50% on last year's competition. Next season's winners will receive £150,000, plus a new - as yet to be unveiled - trophy. And there's also set to be MAJOR competition format changes - which were confirmed earlier in the year alongside a new Scottish FA co-operation system apparently designed to help youth development in the Scottish game. They say that TEN Scottish Premiership B teams will enter a new 'Uefa-style' league phase - although what happens to the other two teams isn't entirely clear. They also say that youth prospects aged jst 15 will now be eligible to participate in the competition. In total, the first round league phase will comprise 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 clubs, and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams. The B teams will play all their matches in the league phase away from home, in a move the SPFL say is designed to reduce travel costs, with trialists permitted to play in these matches. Clubs participating at this phase will be split into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections, but will feed into a single league table with with the top 22 clubs qualifying. The ten William Hill Championship clubs will then enter the competition as seeds - with the remainder of the competition following a traditional knockout format. Hamilton Accies Players Walk Out Over Unpaid Wages SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: 'We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season's competition. 'KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and have already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. "They have a proud history of supporting our national sport and this long-term deal is really positive news for all 42 member clubs. 'We're confident the new competition format will help develop some of our most promising players across the country. Allowing players to compete at a high level from the age of 15 will pay dividends for them, for their clubs and ultimately, for the national side.' Doncaster added: 'We've had long discussions with our member clubs and the Scottish FA about this new competition format and we've also introduced some key principles to reduce travel time and costs, particularly for William Hill League 1 and 2 clubs. 'We would lastly like to thank the SPFL Trust and the donors who support them, who have been fantastic supporters of this competition for the last four seasons.' The Lowdown: the KDM Evolution Trophy The full schedule of prize monies for the KDM Evolution Trophy is set out below: Winner - £150,000 Runner up - £100,000 Losing semi-finalists - £75,000 Losing quarter-finalists - £50,000 Round of 16 losers - £40,000 Round of 32 losers - £30,000 1st round (league phase)losers - £15,000-18,500(depending on final league position) A summary of key competition dates is set out below: League Phase MD1: 12/13 August 2025 League Phase MD2: 26/27 August 2025 League Phase MD3: 6/7 September 2025 League Phase MD4: 23/24 September 2025 League Phase MD5: 11/12 October 2025 League Phase MD6: 11 November 2025 Round of 32: 9/10 December 2025 Round of 16: 6/7 January 2026 Quarter Final: 27/28 January 2026 Semi Final: 24/25 February 2026 Final: 28/29 March 2026 / 4/5 April 2026
The National
07-05-2025
- Business
- The National
SPFL unveils The KDM Evolution Trophy as details emerge
The competition will now be known as The KDM Evolution Trophy, and this will bring a new feel to the tournament, and record-breaking prize money. The SPFL has agreed a multi-year deal with the Scottish-based, internationally operating construction firm. The competition logo, also revealed today, features the illustration of the brand-new competition trophy which has been commissioned by the SPFL and KDM Group to celebrate this exciting new era for one of Scottish football's best loved competitions. An estimated £1.25 million in prize money will be shared with clubs for the 2025/26 KDM Evolution Trophy – an increase of more than 50% on this year's competition. Next season's winners will receive £150,000, with increased prize money at every stage in the competition. The new set-up will continue to include William Hill Premiership B teams in support of the Scottish FA's aim to provide more opportunities for players in the key 'transition phase' of ages 16-21, as they move from the academy environment to senior football. In a further move to allow the best young players in the country to experience first-team football at an earlier age, youth prospects aged 15 will now be eligible to participate in the competition. The new format includes an opening round league phase and was inspired by UEFA's new club competition formats. The first round league phase will comprise 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 clubs, and 10 William Hill Premiership B-teams. Clubs participating in the league phase of the competition will be split into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections, reducing travel costs for clubs and supporters across six league phase matchdays. Points gained by clubs across six league phase matchdays will feed into a single league table, with the top 22 clubs qualifying for the seeded knock-out Round of 32. William Hill Championship clubs will enter the competition from the Round of 32 as seeded clubs, alongside clubs finishing in the top six of the league phase, with the remainder of the competition following a traditional knock-out format. Neil Doncaster, group chief executive of the SPFL, said: 'We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season's competition. 'KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and have already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. They have a proud history of supporting our national sport and this long-term deal is really positive news for all 42 member clubs. 'We're confident the new competition format will help develop some of our most promising players across the country. Allowing players to compete at a high level from the age of 15 will pay dividends for them, for their clubs and ultimately, for the national side.' William Hill Premiership B-teams will play all league phase matches away from home in a further move to reduce travel costs for William Hill League 1 and League 2 clubs and their supporters. Clubs participating in the league phase will also be permitted to play a limited number of trialists to support squad management in the early stages of the season. Doncaster added: 'We've had long discussions with our member clubs and the Scottish FA about this new competition format and we've also introduced some key principles to reduce travel time and costs, particularly for William Hill League 1 and 2 clubs. 'We would lastly like to thank the SPFL Trust and the donors who support them, who have been fantastic supporters of this competition for the last four seasons.' KDM Group offers a variety of construction services to blue chip clients across the UK and Europe, which include delivery of services such as: general contractor, interior fit-out, mechanical and electrical, manufacturing and design. Iain Jones, Chief Executive of KDM Group, said: "We're incredibly proud to support the launch of this exciting new football competition and to see the KDM Evolution Trophy come to life. "The name reflects the evolution of our business, from a small shopfitting company to a leading international brand. It mirrors the journey of this tournament and the aspiring players it supports. "Our investment in football spans all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage. Through our KDM Group Soccer Centres, we provide primary-aged schoolgirls access to the game whilst having fun, helping to grow the game from the ground up. "We've previously been the official partner of the Scottish Cup and are proud sponsors of the Scotland Women's National Team & Dunfermline Athletic FC. 'This new tournament is another step forward, providing a platform for talent to grow and evolve, just as we have." The full schedule of prize monies for the KDM Evolution Trophy is set out below: Winner - £150,000 Runner up - £100,000 Losing semi-finalists - £75,000 Losing quarter-finalists - £50,000 Round of 16 losers - £40,000 Round of 32 losers - £30,000 1st round (league phase)losers - £15,000-18,500(depending on final league position) A summary of key competition dates is set out below: League Phase MD1: 12/13 August 2025 League Phase MD2: 26/27 August 2025 League Phase MD3: 6/7 September 2025 League Phase MD4: 23/24 September 2025 League Phase MD5: 11/12 October 2025 League Phase MD6: 11 November 2025 Round of 32: 9/10 December 2025 Round of 16: 6/7 January 2026 Quarter Final: 27/28 January 2026 Semi Final: 24/25 February 2026 Final: 28/29 March 2026 / 4/5 April 2026
The Courier
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Fife building firm KDM unveiled as Scottish Challenge Cup sponsor
Dalgety Bay building group KDM has been unveiled as the new sponsors of the Challenge Cup. KDM Group, who also sponsor Dunfermline Athletics' East End Park, will lend their name to the revamped competition which will now be called the KDM Evolution Trophy. The prize money will top close to £1.25 million spread among those competing, with the winners receiving £150,000. This is up from a pooled total of £186,000 the year before, an increase of 570%. A new format inspired by new the Champions League group stage will see teams from Scotland's second, third and fourth tiers — and B-teams from the Premiership — contend. KDM has a history of supporting football in Scotland, with the company also sponsoring the women's national team, the Scottish Cup and their KDM Group Soccer Centres. KDM to sponsor revamped Challenge Cup The Fife firm specialise in contractor, fit-out, project management, manufacturing, and design construction services for blue-chip companies. They were founded in 1999 and are headquartered in Dalgety Bay, with offices in England, Ireland and the Netherlands. KDM chief executive Iain Jones said: 'We're incredibly proud to support the launch of this exciting new football competition and to see the KDM Evolution Trophy come to life. 'The name reflects the evolution of our business, from a small shopfitting company to a leading international brand. 'It mirrors the journey of this tournament and the aspiring players it supports. 'Our investment in football spans all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage. 'Through our KDM Group Soccer Centres, we provide primary-aged schoolgirls access to the game whilst having fun, helping to grow the game from the ground up. 'We've previously been the official partner of the Scottish Cup and are proud sponsors of the Scotland Women's National Team and Dunfermline Athletic FC. 'This new tournament is another step forward, providing a platform for talent to grow and evolve, just as we have.' KDM Evolution Trophy The first round league phase will comprise 10 League 1 clubs, 10 League 2 clubs and 10 Premiership B-teams. Championship teams, including Dunfermline Athletic, will enter the competition from the Round of 32 as seeded clubs, alongside clubs finishing in the top six of the league phase. Neil Doncaster, group chief executive of the SPFL, added: 'We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season's competition. 'KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and have already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. 'They have a proud history of supporting our national sport and this long-term deal is really positive news for all 42 member clubs.'
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
SPFL competition to undergo major revamp with new trophy, sponsor, B teams and record prize pot
UEFA-style league format to be implemented from next season Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish Challenge Cup, traditionally contested by lower league teams beneath the Premiership, has secured a new sponsor ahead of undergoing a major revamp next season. The competition previously labelled the SPFL Trust Trophy will now be known as the KDM Evolution Trophy after the Scottish Professional Football League agreed a multi-year deal with construction firm KDM Group. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A brand new trophy will also be up for grabs as well as a record prize pot of £1.25million - an increase of more than 50 per cent on this year - with the tournament winners pocketing £150,000. The SPFL has released the logo for the KDM Evolution Trophy, which will replace the SPFL Trust Trophy for next season. | SPFL Changes to the competition format were confirmed earlier this year which will feature an opening round league phase, inspired by UEFA's new club competition format, as well as the inclusion of Premiership B teams. The league phase will comprise 30 clubs made up of the 10 League One, 10 League Two and 10 Premiership B teams in a move geared towards providing more opportunities for younger players, with the age limit on participation reduced to 15-years-old. Clubs participating in the league phase of the competition will be split into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections, with points gained by clubs across six league phase matches fed into a single league table. The top 22 clubs will then qualify for the knock-out Round of 32, when Championship sides enter as seeded clubs alongside those finishing in the top six of the league phase. The remainder of the competition then follows a traditional knock-out format. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Livingston are the current cup holders, having defeated Queen's Park 5-0 in the final at Falkirk Stadium back in March. 'Positive news for all 42 clubs' Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, said: 'We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season's competition. 'KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and have already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. They have a proud history of supporting our national sport and this long-term deal is really positive news for all 42 member clubs. 'We're confident the new competition format will help develop some of our most promising players across the country. Allowing players to compete at a high level from the age of 15 will pay dividends for them, for their clubs and ultimately, for the national side." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Livingston won this season's SPFL Trust Trophy after defeating Queen's Park in the final. The competition has been rebranded to the KDM Evolution Trophy from next season. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group The inaugural KDM Evolution Trophy gets underway with the opening round of league phase fixtures on the midweek of Tuesday, August 12 and Wednesday, August 13. Iain Jones, Chief Executive of KDM Group, said: "We're incredibly proud to support the launch of this exciting new football competition and to see the KDM Evolution Trophy come to life. The name reflects the evolution of our business, from a small shopfitting company to a leading international brand. It mirrors the journey of this tournament and the aspiring players it supports. Our investment in football spans all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage. 'Through our KDM Group Soccer Centres, we provide primary-aged schoolgirls access to the game whilst having fun, helping to grow the game from the ground up. We've previously been the official partner of the Scottish Cup and are proud sponsors of the Scotland Women's National Team & Dunfermline Athletic FC. This new tournament is another step forward, providing a platform for talent to grow and evolve, just as we have." Prize money breakdown The full breakdown of prize monies for the KDM Evolution Trophy is as follows: Winner - £150,000 Runner up - £100,000 Losing semi-finalists - £75,000 Losing quarter-finalists - £50,000 Round of 16 losers - £40,000 Round of 32 losers - £30,000
