Neil Doncaster and Peter Lawwell in London as SPL TV deal talks continue

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell is with his SPL counterpart Neil Doncaster in London as discussions continue over TV contracts.

Aberdeen’s Duncan Fraser and Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron are also members of a “steering group” set up to renegotiate with commercial and broadcast partners. It is not known if the pair are also down south.

Talks over Sky’s continued involvement in the Scottish top flight have been held over the previous few weeks, following Rangers’ failure to be readmitted into the SPL as a new company.

Doncaster had warned clubs in the Scottish Football League that TV deals with Sky, ESPN and SPORTFIVE stood to collapse if Rangers were not then voted into the First Division, wiping £17.7m out of the game to be replaced with a new deal worth £3m a year.

That threat has so far failed to transpire since the Ibrox club were admitted to the Third Division, with talks continuing over the contract ahead of Sky broadcasting SPL fixtures on the opening day of the season on Saturday, August 4.

A statement from the SPL to STV read: “At the last General Meeting, the SPL clubs appointed a Steering Group to lead discussions with broadcasters and others commercial partners.

“The Steering Group comprises Neil Doncaster (SPL CEO), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen FC CEO), Peter Lawwell (Celtic FC CEO) and Kenny Cameron (Inverness Caledonian Thistle Chairman).

“Discussions in London between members of the Steering Group and the SPL's commercial and broadcast partners continued today and remain ongoing.”

On Friday, it was announced the SPL had agreed a deal to purchase rights to include Rangers' SFL matches in any package negotiated with broadcasters.

Chief executive Doncaster said at the time: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the parties concerned. Discussions will now continue with our broadcast partners and we expect to be in a position to make a further announcement next week on broadcasting rights."

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