SFA, SPFL & UEFA

Black Friday: Setanta issued with ultimatum by anxious SPL

Scottish football could be facing a Black Friday after the SPL gave Setanta until tomorrow to come up with answers about its financial crisis.

An SPL board conference call took place yesterday and agreed to a request from the Irish broadcaster for time to produce a revised plan after it failed to pay the final £3million instalment of last season's television money.

It is understood, however, that the top-flight hierarchy expect some form of firm proposal to be put forward when they reconvene for an update on the perilous situation tomorrow.

Should that not be forthcoming, then action to recoup outstanding monies could be considered by the SPL. Clubs are anxiously awaiting developments but Setanta's future is looking increasingly bleak after venture-capitalist backers were unwilling to fund all of the £100m shortfall created by the loss of half their Barclays Premier League rights.

A payment of £35m as part of their current English contract is due from Setanta a week on Monday, while their position was further weakened after boxer David Haye called off his world title fight they had been set to screen.

One hope of avoiding a meltdown is that Sky agree a wholesale deal that would effectively make Setanta an addon option to their packages. A £50m proposal is reported to have been rejected by Sky, but it's possible they could step in on more favourable terms.

'We are continuing to work very closely with our colleagues at Setanta and discussions are continuing,' said an SPL spokesman.

The country's top 12 sides would be staring into a £25m TV cash black hole for the new campaign if Setanta folded, with player wage bills one of the first things that would be slashed.

Clubs are already struggling to deal with the effects of the recession - with fears over revenue dips from sponsorship, merchandising and season-ticket sales - and some could be placed in significant financial jeopardy without broadcasting income.

Meanwhile, any potential escape route to England for the Old Firm appears increasingly unlikely.

Barclays Premier League clubs are set to snub plans for an invite to Rangers and Celtic when they convene for their annual general meeting this morning.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside recently leaked proposals for a two-tier Premier League featuring 36 clubs - including the Old Firm in the final shake-up.

It had been expected that the matter would be formally discussed this week but other issues - including Setanta - will dominate the agenda.

With a £1.7billion deal secured with Sky until 2013, the cash fears are much less pressing south of the border. Birmingham chairman David Gold said: 'It could always be raised because there is a formal agenda and then any other business, and it could be raised under that.

'But I know of no plans anyone has to discuss it at this stage and it's certainly not on the formal agenda. We are actually going to the meeting looking for clarification concerning the situation with Setanta ourselves.'
DR

The Scottish Premier League will take Setanta to court if the broadcaster fails to pay the final £3m instalment of last season's television money on Friday. (The Herald)

And three of Scotland's top clubs could fold if Setanta goes bankrupt in the summer. (Daily Record)

Setanta will find a solution to paying SPL clubs by Friday a late payment of £3m. (The Sun)

Das Geld sehen die nie wieder. I)

SPL pays up in lieu of TV money

The Scottish Premier League is to pay £3m to 12 member clubs from its own funds to tide them over in lieu of money owed by broadcaster Setanta.

Cash-strapped Setanta was due to make the final payment of the season on Monday for its football match coverage.

But, after a second board meeting in three days, the SPL has decided to dip into its own coffers to prevent any clubs facing financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the SPL and Setanta will continue this weekend.

The broadcaster, which last year agreed to pay £125m over four seasons for extending its exclusive live coverage from 2010, has been attempting to renegotiate a number of its contracts because of cash-flow problems.

That followed the losee of one of its contracts with the Barclays Premier League in England.

Estimates suggest that up to £20m could be wiped off the value of that increased deal, but the apparent inability to meet one of the demands of their present £13.5m annual contract raises further fears.

The SPL board has had updates from its financial and legal advisors and will see what develops over the next 48 hours.

And it could theoretically terminate its contract with the broadcaster as early as next week.

A television deal is vital to support the economy of Scottish top-flight football.

Several Premier League clubs are thought to be financially reliant on the TV money to keep themselves afloat.

Advertisers pay handsomely for shirt sponsorship and pitch-side displays on the basis that they will have their brand and products shown in hundreds of thousands of homes through television coverage.

Losing a television deal would not only leave the SPL as a whole the poorer but also make a substantial dent in many clubs' finances.

Setanta first won the rights to broadcast live SPL matches in competition with previous rights holder BBC Scotland in 2004.

However, it is unlikely that a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster could now come close to matching the kind of money offered by Setanta for live coverage of Scotland's top-flight.

BBC Scotland has been broadcasting SPL match highlights on television and the internet while looking to buy up rights to live matches involving Scottish clubs in European competitions.
BBC

The SPL is facing a financial crisis if the satellite broadcaster Setanta goes under. (Sunday Times)

Rangers european dates..

August 27: Draw for group stage of Champions League – Rangers will be in second or third pot of seeds.

September 15 or 16: First group fixture.

September 29 or 30: Second group fixture.

October 20 or 21: Third group fixture.

November 3 or 4: Fourth group fixture.

November 24 or 25: Fifth group fixture.

December 8 or 9: Sixth group fixture.

Zitat von ranger20004

Rangers european dates..

August 27: Draw for group stage of Champions League – Rangers will be in second or third pot of seeds.

September 15 or 16: First group fixture.

September 29 or 30: Second group fixture.

October 20 or 21: Third group fixture.

November 3 or 4: Fourth group fixture.

November 24 or 25: Fifth group fixture.

Alles anzeigen

Was ist mit den terminen für unser Achtel-, Viertel-, Halbfinale und natürlich Finale

December 8 or 9: Sixth group fixture.

ClemeX dreht schon wieder durch.

Setanta continue talks with SPL

Talks between the SPL and Setanta are ongoing as a question mark remains over the broadcaster's ability to honour their television deal.

The board of the Irish-based company met this morning and will continue to work on a rescue package, with the next couple of days expected to be crucial.

Fears were raised when Setanta failed to pay the final instalment of this season's TV deal last week.

A payment of £3million was due last Monday but that money has still not been received by the SPL by Monday night.

However, league bosses are keen to find a resolution rather than terminate the contract with Setanta and face the prospect of seeking a new broadcast partner.

The SPL have already dipped into their own coffers to distribute around £3million to their 12 member clubs in a bid to tide them over and ease the financial pressure for the time being.

Setanta have already asked to renegotiate their four-year deal with the SPL after losing one of their contracts with the Premier League.

The 12 SPL clubs came to an agreement in April following Setanta's request to change the terms of the contract due to begin at the start of the 2010-11 season, which was initially worth £125million.

Estimates claimed up to £20million could be wiped off the value of that increased deal but the apparent inability to meet one of the demands of their £13.5million annual contract raises further fears.
TT

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0609/sky_setanta.html

Setanta steht also kurz vor der Insolvenz. Ist ja modern heutzutage..

Setanta war nun wirklich ein Hinterhof-Sender, die braucht kein Mensch. Wenn ich lese, was in den Foren so immer (und wahrlich nicht nur Rangers) an Erlebnisberichten über deren Geschäftspraktiken und null vorhandenen Service erzählt wurde, dann waren das eh immer Amateure. Grundsätzlich ist es aber natürlich schlecht, zumal halt auch noch das Geld aussteht.

Zitat von Caledonia

Grundsätzlich ist es aber natürlich schlecht, zumal halt auch noch das Geld aussteht.

Es geht ja aber doch nicht nur um die jetzt fehlenden 3 Mio, sondern auch um nächste Saison. Oder hatte Setanta da keine Rechte mehr? Verträge sind zwar Verträge, aber wenn Setanta insolvent geht muss sich die SPL erst mal hinter der 30 Mio-Forderung der EPL hinten anstellen...

Ja, die Zeiten sehen alles andere als rosig aus. Und um die SPL reißen werden sich die Sender sicher auch nicht unbedingt. Jetzt bin ich mal gespannt, wie die Amateure in der SPL mit der Situation umgehen.

Ich bin ja irgendwie froh darüber, da wir dadurch keine Kasper aus der SPL kaufen können I)

Da wäre ich mir nicht so sicher. Diese Seilschaften bestehen sicherlich. Anders kann man die letzten 2 Jahre einfach nicht erklären.

Ähm, ich hab das mehr auf Spieler bezogen...

Damit konnte ich nicht rechnen.

Setanta: Irische Pay-TV-Plattform kurz vor der Insolvenz

Veterans of the ITV Digital collapse have warned Scottish Premier League clubs they could face four years of financial misery if Setanta goes to the wall. (Daily Mail)

Meanwhile, the SPL is pinning its hopes on a group of Irish investors rescuing the stricken broadcaster, staving off the threat of administration for several Scottish clubs. (The Herald)