New Gers chief optimistic over TV deal

New Rangers chairman John McClelland is confident a television deal can be brokered for Scottish football before the start of the new season.

The Old Firm and the other 10 Scottish Premier League clubs had been at loggerheads since April when Rangers and Celtic withdrew their support for SPL TV.

Consequently, the remaining SPL clubs announced their intention to quit the SPL over the issue.

Sky Sports did not renew their deal with the SPL leaving BBC Scotland as the only runners in the race.

Now McClelland, who succeeded David Murray as Ibrox supremo on Friday, has revealed Rangers and Celtic have both conceded ground to help a new deal progress.

McClelland said: ‘‘Some progress has been made and I am hopeful it will all be sorted out quite quickly.

‘‘We have agreed to alter the voting system from 11-1 to 8-4 and that is a significant change.

‘‘Had that structure, for instance, been in place last season the SPL channel would have been voted in.

‘‘We (Rangers and Celtic) have also agreed to cut our percentage of the distribution of income from television and other commercial activities from 40% to around one-third of the total.

‘‘The other clubs want that reduced further but we feel we have gone as far as we can on that one.

‘‘It’s fair to say we have probably climbed down on these issues and it would be a shame if we couldn’t agree at this stage and move on for the sake of Scottish football.’’

One of the sticking points over the original deal had been the inclusion of the Old Firm in the SPL.

The pair both held talks with the Nationwide League over a possible move to England but plans fell through when authorities stood against any move south.

But McClelland maintains a move to a European league is a possibility.

McClelland said: ‘‘The Premiership idea is on the back burner. I can assure you there are no secret talks going on with them or the Nationwide League.

‘‘Maybe there was too much hype and it wasn’t going to happen quickly, if ever.

‘‘There are alternatives to pursue, maybe in the shape of a European League or re-structured UEFA competitions.

‘‘We also have to look at access to more British and European cups.’’