Scottish Premier League chief Gold hopeful over green light for SPL2

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 04:47 EST, 1 July 2008

Scottish Premier League executive chairman Lex Gold is confident proposals for a second tier of the SPL will get the go-ahead.  

The SPL chairman was speaking as Scottish football's top-flight was handed a massive boost with the news that broadcasters Setanta had agreed a new contract worth £125million for an extra four years.  

The deal more than doubles Setanta's current investment in the SPL and could strengthen the case of those First Division clubs seeking a slice of the revenue available to the top 12 clubs in the country.  

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Dundee, Livingston and St Johnstone were among those previously defeated in trying to set up an SPL2 but the issue is set to return to the agenda once an arbitration panel reports its findings on the proposals.  

Gold said: 'It does appear some of our colleagues in the Scottish Football League appear to be less keen on it and we are not going to be forcing anything on anyone that does not want it.  

'The aim will be that we will have another look at that. The clubs agreed that's the way we will take it forward once we know the outcome of the arbitration panel.  

'It's in the hands of a tribunal at the moment.  I am pretty confident we will win but that's not knowledge, that's on the basis that we believe our view on the position is right.'

The SPL had two more years on their previous agreement with Setanta and, given the uncertain financial climate, Gold believes the securing of fresh terms is 'astounding'.

Gold initially recommended opening talks in April and was delighted a deal could be reached.  

He added: 'In April I went to our board and said, "We have got two and a bit years of the current deal to go and I want you to think now about when we should go back to the market place". 

'The two choices were going in September this year and the other going in April.  

'There were two factors that drove us towards an early start, one was waiting on the English Premier League but alongside that was the way the economy was going and we felt a need to get in early.  

'It's really quite remarkable, against the background.  It's more than doubling the money for the clubs, our current deal is £54.5million and this is £125 million.

'The clubs are happy. The deal is astounding.'