Levein believes the Scottish Premier League is worth watching

Dundee United manager Craig Levein believes the Scottish Premier League will attract a better television deal than the one they enjoyed with Setanta.

The SPL are seeking a buyer for their domestic broadcasting rights following the demise of the broadcaster, who have gone into administration.

"I feel that our product is valuable," Levein told BBC Radio Scotland.

"We'll get a TV deal and I think the deal we get will be better than our last TV deal."

Irish-based Setanta last year agreed to pay £125m over four seasons to extend its deal with the SPL beyond 2010.

However, the SPL had to pay £3m to the 12 member clubs from its own funds after Setanta missed repeated deadlines to make their final payment for last season.

US broadcaster ESPN are interested in Scottish top flight action but BBC Scotland, who were rights holder before Setanta took over in 2004, are unlikely to match the kind of figures being discussed.

"I'm fairly certain that we will get a good television deal and I'm hoping that, if the TV deal goes the way that we all want, there will be even more money for myself and other managers to spend on players," added Levein.

Levein has recruited Danny Cadamarteri, Jennison Myrie-Williams and goalkeeper Steven Banks as a player/coach ahead of the new season.

And he admits any further new signings could depend on how much cash the Tayside club receives from a new television deal.

"There are two different things going on here," he said. "There are the budgets at the football club and then there is how that is impacted by the television deal.

"I'm quite fortunate in that I've already signed three players and I'll have a goalkeeper in by the time the season starts.

"A lot of people haven't done any business this summer.

"I'll have to wait and see what happens with regards the TV money but I'm sick and fed up of people being negative about what's happening.

"Okay, Setanta have gone bust and that's just unfortunate that the business model they put together didn't work but it doesn't mean that the product we've got in the SPL should be devalued in any way.

"I believe that we've got a great product. I go and watch games all the time, I go down to watch games in England all the time, I watch their Premier League on the television and I've seen some horrendous games.

"But what they do better down there is that they talk their game up and I think that's the biggest problem in Scotland, that everyone is so negative.

"There is doom and gloom and facing meltdown and all that sort of stuff - a lot of rubbish."

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