Keane was forced to hand over control at Livingston

There have been claims that the Scottish Premier League sponsor had adopted a new tough policy, with administration at Dundee and Livingston being the result.

But a bank spokesman told The Scotsman: "We're 100% committed to the clubs that we provide banking for.

"We don't have a policy on Scottish football but a one-by-one approach."

Halifax Bank of Scotland handles the accounts of 10 out of the 12 SPL clubs, the exceptions being Celtic and Partick Thistle, viewed as the two most financially healthy in the league.

We will remain committed to supporting them with the lending we provide HBOS spokesman

Motherwell went into administration last season, Dundee followed in November, Livingston were forced to take that step this week and several other clubs are similarly on the brink.

Livingston chairman Dominic Keane claimed that the bank's loss of faith in his ability to control his club's finances forced the appointment of an Kroll Restructuring Group to formulate a rescue package.

It has also been suggested that there had been a change of policy following the merger of Bank of Scotland with Halifax.

"Have we suddenly stopped lending? Have we suddenly gone cold?" said the spokesman.

"In recent months, numerous requests from SPL clubs to extend finance have been accepted, where the business case has merited it.

Keane hands over control

"Over the last few months, indeed, over the last two years, we have been very flexible in being able to provide lending where the case merits it.

"As we've already said with Dundee, now in administration, we will remain committed to supporting them with the lending we provide and we will provide every help we can to the administrator in the difficult job of trying to find a positive outcome for that club.

"After all, it's our customers.

"There always has been a unique set of circumstances for each business which, as a matter of commonsense, requires us to take a singular approach with each business."