ian1964 10,514 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 CELTICâ??S Peter Lawwell and SPL supremo Neil Doncaster were in London yesterday trying to persuade Sky to show Scottish football for EIGHT years. The satellite TV giants had agreed to a five-year deal worth £80million but that was conditional on Old Firm matches being central to the package. That wonâ??t happen now Rangers are bound for the Third Division and SPL clubs are frantically trying to come up with other packages that would at least provide some kind of stability, albeit with much reduced payments over a longer time frame. However, even after cutting back on their fees, broadcasters will not commit to covering matches until 2020 unless SPL bosses deliver rights to a number of Rangersâ?? games in the SFL. Thatâ??s why the SPL themselves were one of the bidders who met yesterdayâ??s deadline for offers to screen SFL games. Doncaster was in London at the end of last week along with Parkhead chief executive Lawwell and they travelled south again yesterday to continue the talks with Sky. The broadcasters, including ESPN and other corporate partners, have remained tight lipped since Rangers were barred from the SPL but they are looking to scale down their payments. All bids for SFL matches had to be in by midday and last night, along with their agents, IMG, league chiefs were assessing the merits of each offer. There is a threat that the £1.9m annual fee paid to the SFL by the SPL â?? as part of the settlement agreed when the top clubs broke away in 1998 â?? wonâ??t be handed over unless the rights to Rangersâ?? games are given in return. However, the SFL will not be bullied, believing they can do their own deals with Sky and others. They will also consider legal action to prevent the SPL from reneging on their pact from 1998. However, there is a clause in this deal which allows for payment to be scaled down if there is a narrowing of the gap in the finances between the SPL and SFL. But it is unlikely Sky, or anyone else, would be willing to pay the SFL much more than £30,000 a game featuring Rangers. The SFL are expected to announce today they are prepared to bend the rules over any new TV deal they negotiate so that Charles Greenâ??s new-look Rangers will benefit. Newco Rangers have been granted only associate membership of the SFL. As a result, under Rule 19 of the SFLâ??s constitution, they arenâ??t entitled to a share of the sale of those rights â?? even though itâ??s their involvement which has produced a bidding war. The rule states: â??An Associate Member shall have no financial interest in the assets of the League and shall not be accorded any voting rights.â? However, SFL chief executive David Longmuir hinted last night a compromise may be reached which will allow the club to gain a much-needed cash injection from the transaction. He said: â??We will work in a collaborative fashion to operate in the best interests of the League.â? Meanwhile, the continued delays over Rangers securing SFA membership have forced Fife-based Junior side Kelty Hearts to postpone a testimonial match against the Ibrox side which was due to take place tonight. Ally McCoistâ??s men have only played games behind closed doors at their Murray Park training base so far this summer as they are not licensed to play official fixtures. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/07/24/spl-hold-crunch-talks-with-sky-over-possible-eight-year-tv-deal-to-show-live-scottish-football-86908-23911976/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,514 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Should they not be too busy trying to give Rangers a license to play instead of fucking off to crawl to sky trying ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthter 542 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 The big question is....Why is Liewell involved. Last I check he wasn't an SPL official/board member, yet he is involved in negotiating a deal with SKY. It would then be no surprise if any agreement that is reached is weighted heavily in Ceptic's favour.... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 liewwell probably doesn't trust Doncaster anymore than we do. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,904 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 The big question is....Why is Liewell involved. Last I check he wasn't an SPL official/board member, yet he is involved in negotiating a deal with SKY. It would then be no surprise if any agreement that is reached is weighted heavily in Ceptic's favour.... Dearest Peter only has one long arm and that is firmly entrenched up Regan's arse. Neccessity demands he is in the same room as Doncaster to work him from the back. It's all in the best interests of sporting integrity don't ya know. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc 280 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Liewell will be there to ensure "sporting integrity" in any agreement.http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/vb/images/icons/icon7.png 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,514 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 So!,is the SPL waiting for the outcome of the TV deal to decide whether we get a license or not?,is there a deadline for getting the license?,when do we expect to hear? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthter 542 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 So!,is the SPL waiting for the outcome of the TV deal to decide whether we get a license or not?,is there a deadline for getting the license?,when do we expect to hear? My understanding of the situation is that the SPL should have no control over out SFA license. The SPL are a seperate body from the SFA. It is the SFA & only the SFA as the countries governing body that has the authority to issue the transfer of license. However, the SPL are the ones that historically have generated the majority cash, and are therefore sticking their noses in!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 So!,is the SPL waiting for the outcome of the TV deal to decide whether we get a license or not?,is there a deadline for getting the license?,when do we expect to hear? I am thinking along the lines that it does all come down to who is getting what TV money etc before they give us our license, but it's getting shocking the time things are taking, but going by what has happened recently they don't care about us just the money we bring in for all the other teams. it will be a last minute thing before we hear to give us as little time as possible to prepare but hopefully by us getting some players in place to sign that will obviously help. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,514 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 My understanding of the situation is that the SPL should have no control over out SFA license. The SPL are a seperate body from the SFA. It is the SFA & only the SFA as the countries governing body that has the authority to issue the transfer of license. However, the SPL are the ones that historically have generated the majority cash, and are therefore sticking their noses in!!! So why don't we have our license?,my brain is hurting! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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