Raith Rovers have said they are “delighted” to announce a shirt sponsor deal with the crime author and lifelong fan Val McDermid. The front of Rovers’ shirt will be printed with her website, valmcdermid.com, for the 2014-15 season in the SPFL Championship.

Tom Morgan, Raith’s commercial director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Val on board. She has been a great supporter of the club and when she was approached about the sponsorship she knew it was a win-win situation for herself and the club. It is an honour for a provincial club like Raith Rovers to be involved with a world famous author.”

Rovers beat Rangers 1-0 in the Ramsden Cup final in April but finished in seventh position in the SPFL Championship, only two points above a relegation play-off place. Their survival was a key factor in attracting McDermid to sponsoring the shirt.

The 59-year-old writer said: “The benefit has never been clearer than in this coming season. With the arrival of Rangers, Hibernian and Hearts in our division, there will be many more visitors to Stark’s Park. There will be massively more media interest, with photographers and TV cameras sending images of our ground and our players all round the world. So whether you’re a local business or you’re aiming at a wider audience, this is the year to get involved with Raith Rovers.”

McDermid is best known for her crime fiction, namely involving the character Dr Tony Hill. She already had a stand named after her and is a board member. Her father was a scout for the club.

This is not the first time in recent memory that a writer has sponsored a lower-league club, with the award-winning author John Green, who is also known for his YouTube videos, putting up his own money into AFC Wimbledon in January.