BBC SPORT | SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Celtic deny separate deal

Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod insists the Old Firm have no plans to go it alone after the collapse of the proposed Scottish Premier League television channel.

Both Glasgow clubs voted against the new station to veto the other 10 clubs' hopes.

But McLeod maintained the new station was a "high-risk" strategy which could have jeopardised the financial state of the game.

McLeod said: "The whole success of the channel was predicated on the fact that you were going to get particular subscription levels.

"We didn't believe those subscription levels in the first year would be maintained and there would be further concerns into years two and three.

There are no separate discussions with anybody

Ian McLeod, Celtic chief executive

"This is a high-risk project from our prospect.

"It is difficult for Scottish football at the moment and we didn't want to be in a position where we felt it would make it even worse," he added.

He was quick to dispell rumours which were circulated in a weekend newspaper report that the Old Firm are close to signing a separate deal with Sky TV to screen all their home league matches for �16m each

"There are no deals on the table. There are no separate discussions with anybody," he stated

McLeod believes that Celtic have worked constructively with the SPL on the television project and were full participants in the discussion process

Hibs managing director Rod Petrie
Hibs chief Rod Petrie is disapointed

But he was adamant that his club were right to abstain from the proposal set forth at the meeting between the 12 SPL clubs on Monday morning at Hampden Park.

"The meeting took place today to decide where each of the clubs stood in relation to its further development and we had to vote where we felt it was most appropriate," McLeod concluded.

But Hibernian managing director Rod Petrie expressed the "bitter disappointment" of the other 10 SPL clubs.

Petrie told Sky Sports News: "We are bitterly disappointed that the new SPL channel, which was an innovative and positive development for the League, has been voted down by Celtic and Rangers.

"We all came in an optimistic frame of mind that here was a great opportunity for the League to continue its development and we are all bitterly disappointed it has fallen because we didn't get another vote," he added.


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