BETVICTOR have scrapped their sponsorship deal with the Southern, Isthmian and Northern leagues one year early.

Green-lighted in early March, the decision is not linked to the subsequent outbreak of COVID-19 as the betting giant exercised a break clause in its contract.

In ending the association, the divorce could reportedly cost leagues up to £100,000 – adding more strain to clubs, including Dorchester Town, who have suffered a financial hit during the coronavirus crisis.

BetVictor’s deal is due to expire on Thursday, July 9 leaving less than three months for the trio of divisions to find a new title partner.

However, after all leagues in Steps 3 to 7 were voided by the FA, it is unknown when a return to play can be facilitated amid the current lockdown.

While the Southern and Northern divisions remained silent on the break-up, the Isthmian League made public a letter sent to its member clubs in the seventh tier of English football.

It read: “BetVictor have terminated the sponsorship for a number of reasons, but mainly due to the fact that the increasing compliance restrictions and challenges faced in their first seven months outweighed the benefits they were drawing from the sponsorship.

“However, the escalating negativity towards betting in football did not help, nor did – most disappointingly – compliance breaches by clubs in and outside of the Isthmian League.

“Although the search for a new sponsor has begun, the COVID-19 crisis makes it very difficult to engage meaningfully with potential replacements.

“So, as of now, the leagues operating at Step Three and Four have no main sponsor for season 2020/21.”

Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson admitted he is “apprehensive” regarding the search for a new sponsor.

He said: “We are very disappointed that this decision was made as it means that we are not able to develop the relationship with the sponsor.

“We are actively looking for a new sponsor but are apprehensive at this time due to the general economic downturn due to COVID-19.

“We believe we have a good and marketable product which has attracted sponsors for nearly 40 years, and we hope will continue to do so once we are able to restart the league.”