Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, who has no official capacity within the SPL board, has, along with the SPL’s Neil Doncaster, been scurrying back and forth from London as desperate discussions continue over TV contracts. Talks over Sky’s continued involvement in the Scottish top flight have been held over the past few weeks, following Rangers’ failure to be readmitted into the SPL. Doncaster had warned clubs in the Scottish Football League that TV deals with Sky and ESPN stood to collapse if Rangers were not then voted into the First Division, wiping £17.7m out of the game, to be replaced with a new deal worth just £3m a year. Rangers were subsequently voted into the SFL’s Third Division.
However after grave warnings of an £80m shortfall, SKY and ESPN have taken pity on the ailing Scottish game and come up with a reduced package that gives short term security at least. Without Rangers there would be no TV deal and therefore no SPL. That is the reality of the deal Lawwell and Doncaster have signed. Rangers and its supporters it seems will have to foot the bill for the SPL for the foreseeable future. The Sky deal will see thirty games live including five live fixtures of Rangers in the SFL. ESPN will show ten Rangers games live.
This must surely be the first time that a team from the lower divisions has financially bailed out the so-called Premier League teams. Could you imagine a championship team sponsoring the English Premier League the way Rangers now sponsor the SPL?
It seems that sporting integrity no longer counts when they need the television money generated by Rangers. For all the bluster and fake outrage from the other SPL clubs over Rangers’ tax problems, it seems that their integrity doesn’t mind pocketing the TV money. It will be interesting to view the reaction of the fans of the clubs who wanted Rangers out of the SPL but now find that it is this money that keeps them breathing.
Will these fans, which vehemently opposed Rangers in the SPL, rise up and tell their clubs not to take the money on offer from Sky and ESPN via Rangers? We shall wait and see. Will the Well Society, Motherwell’s supporters group who voted Rangers out of the top tier or any other fans group get another chance to voice their views? It is a bitter pill for the SPL to swallow, but the reality is that without the attraction of Rangers they will wither. In Scotland the interesting story is Rangers.
Rangers’ first league game of the season against Peterhead will be live on Sky Sports on August 11th with a 12:45 PM kick-off. “You’re welcome”.
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The deal is the same amount as the deal just ended.
“In Scotland the interesting story is Rangers”
What is this guy talking about??
So the future of the SPL is saved by Rangers?
An institution that has caused more damage to Scottish football in the last few months than all the the other clubs put together in the entire history of the scottish game.
A club that refuses to admit any wrong doing.
A club whose new chairman sights bigoty as the real reason all the SPl chairman (bar Kilmarnock) voted them out.
A manager discracefully screaming a demand to know who the people were who dared to find Rangers guilty of any wrongdoing – even though HE KNEW WHO THEIR IDENTITES.
A club who refused to accept the their own governing bodies findings and punishments – choosing to go outside to the courts.
Even though the SFA were trying to help Rangers.
A club guilty of not paying employer’s tax and vat to the HMRC.
A club owing millions in unpaid transfer fees to Scottish and European clubs.
This list can go on and (D)EBT’s the “small tax case” and the “Big tax case” are going to happen sooner rather than later.
Rangers were rightly and punished for their wrong doings by the SPL and SFL chairman dispite the need for TV monies.
This shows that the game will survive and in time prosper by showing good governance and itegrity.
The truth is that forums were begining to show real anger towards SKY – if they would have dropped Scottish football.
Boycotts of SKY and moving to Virgin BT etc would have have began to happen bigtime.
SKY were fully aware of this..
Also SKY would rather have Scottish football than allow Virgin or BT a lookin.
Total monopoly of British football – or as close to it as they are allowed.
So don’t be naive – do be objectve – or just don’t bother
Have Celtic been punished for hiding child abuse from the law ?
Rangers are Scottish football, end of.