apr2006

The SPL has agreed a two-year extension of the current TV contract with Setanta Sports.

The new deal, which runs until the end of season 2009/10, is worth £54.5million over four years.

In addition to covering the current 38 live games per season, Setanta Sports will feature a further 22 live matches between non-Old Firm clubs. The 60 live games will herald the biggest TV deal ever for the SPL.

Commenting on the deal, Lex Gold, Executive Chairman of the SPL said: "I am delighted that we have agreed an extension to our contract. Setanta Sports has been an excellent partner delivering great coverage of the league with excellent production values.

"It is no secret that a number of our clubs have faced a tough time financially. This £54.5million deal is the biggest in the history of Scottish football and provides a very welcome boost for our clubs.

"It is a good day for the SPL, our clubs and their supporters, Setanta Sports and for Scottish football. A good season just got better."

Trevor East, Setanta’s Director of Sport said: "This brings our investment in the Scottish Premier League to £71m. We are delighted that we will be showcasing 60 top live games from next season and that we have further cemented our partnership with the SPL.

"Extending our coverage to include more teams more often is an important part of our development strategy."

Gordon Strachan the Celtic boss is looking to strengthen the Celtic squad to avoid the bitter disappointment suffered in the Champions League last year. Middlesborough midfielder George Boateng is one of his major targets and he is also believed to be looking to take Arsenal wonderkid Theo Walcott on a season long loan. Strachan is also interested in taking Robbie Fowler for a year but may find competition from Blackburn and Everton for his signature.

The former Coventry City and Southampton boss claimed the award after leading The Bhoys to the Scottish Premier League title in his first season in charge at Parkhead.

Celtic crashed out of Europe when they lost their UEFA Champions League qualifier to Slovakian upstarts Artmedia Bratislava in the summer, but the Old Firm giants recovered to reclaim the SPL title and win this season's CIS Insurance Cup.

Strachan pipped Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies to win the annual award in what proved to be the tightest vote among Scottish football writers.

"It was a desperately close race between Gordon Strachan and Jim Jefferies and it was highly appropriate that was the case," said Scottish Football Writers' Association president Jim Black.

"Given Celtic's trophy success, it can't be disputed that Gordon is the worthy winner."

CELTIC today welcomed the comments by UEFA’s Director of Communications, William Gaillard that the club and its supporters will be treated like every other club which takes part in European competitions.

Mr Gaillard was speaking in the wake of UEFA’s investigation into allegations of sectarian chanting at the recent Champions League matches between Rangers and Villarreal.

He said: “Celtic in the past have a good record in European competitions and their supporters were awarded the Fair Play trophy after the UEFA Cup final in Seville. But nobody is above the law. They’ll be scrutinised just like every other club in Europe.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “We welcome Mr Gaillard’s comments which acknowledge that every club in Europe will receive the same treatment from UEFA.

“We have heard nothing from UEFA and, indeed, the last time we were in direct contact with UEFA was when they presented the Celtic supporters with the Fair Play Award in recognition of their behaviour at the UEFA Cup final in 2003, something which, as a club, we are rightly proud of.

“There appears to be an attempt in today’s press to drag Celtic into a debate and a situation in which we are not involved.

“However, as a club we are not complacent and will continue to remind supporters of their responsibilities in following the club, whether here in Scotland or anywhere in Europe.

“We do accept that we have our own issues, particularly with a section of our away support, and we will continue to tackle this and take action where appropriate.

“Celtic Football Club views all forms of sectarianism or bigotry as totally unacceptable and, we will continue, as our Social Mission Statement says, to ‘promote Celtic as a club for all people, regardless of gender, age, religion, race or ability’.”