He again claimed that his club had no plans to play in the English Premiership, or the Nationwide League.

And he blamed the other 10 clubs for forcing a crisis in order to change the voting rights within the league's corridors of power.

McClelland was responding on behalf of Celtic and Rangers after the other clubs on Tuesday decided to resign from the SPL.

But McClelland said that they had been totally within their rights, as Celtic and Rangers did not think that the plan was viable.

"It is unfair to say that we have been bully boys," he said.

"Our share of the distribution of television money is much less than the income we bring to the SPL."

The other clubs accused the Old Firm of having a hidden agenda designed to create for themselves a way out of Scottish football and into the more lucrative English Premiership.

But McClelland insisted: "We have no plans to join the English Premiership, or the Football League.

"That is not part of the agenda. This was a meeting about the television contracts.

"We were surprised because the meeting had gone very, very well up until that point.

He said it was the others who had a hidden agenda of wanting to change the SPL constitution, which at present requires an 11-1 majority for major decisions like television deals.