Why did the proposals for SPL TV fail to get off the ground?

Celtic and Rangers refused to commit to the SPL's three-year plan to establish the world's first league-owned satellite television station, deeming it too much of a financial risk.

With a voting system requiring an 11-1 majority among the 12 member clubs, the scheme was scuppered.

Will there be SPL soccer on our television screens next season?

The SPL could always go back to BSkyB, who have provided coverage over the last four years, but broadcasters now have the clubs over a barrel and, if they were to make an offer, it could well be below the reported �45m on the table for a four-year deal a few months ago.

Terrestrial broadcasters, BBC Scotland and Scottish TV are likely to bid for highlights packages.

What does this mean for club's revenues?

The previous deal with BSkyB poured around �10m into the SPL each season, with Celtic and Rangers each receiving �2m and the other ten clubs getting �600,000.

With money already tight and forward planning difficult under the current climate of uncertainty, squads will be trimmed over the summer and youth initiatives are likely to suffer as belts are tightened.

Sponsors are also certain to rethink their involvement with clubs, if their exposure is curtailed.

Can Rangers and Celtic negotiate their own television deals?

There have been reports suggesting the Old Firm are on the verge of signing a separate deal with BSkyB to screen matches, but this would be problematic.

The SPL currently own the rights to all matches, so even a deal involving only the four Celtic v Rangers league meetings would require the SPL's consent.

Given the current 11-1 voting system required to approve any moves for change within the SPL, it looks like a 10-2 split is going to exist for a while.

Parallels have been drawn with rugby's Six Nations Championship, which saw England negotiate a separate deal with BSkyB and tell the other countries they could like it or lump it.

However, while England could have chosen to go and play with the southern hemisphere nations, if the other ten SPL clubs object, where would Rangers and Celtic go?

What were the Old Firm's objections to SPL TV?

Both Rangers and Celtic had problems with a plan that required an estimated 100,000 subscribers to break even.

With ITV Digital going into administration because of a lack of viewers and throwing the English Nationwide Leagues into chaos, the trepidation felt by the Old Firm is understandable.

They were not willing to join the venture simply because no other alternative was available.

Ultimately, Rangers and Celtic are anxious to leave Scottish football to seek the riches their huge fan-base could generate in alternative leagues.

Recent talk of joining the English Premiership and establishing European leagues has floundered, but the Old Firm will continue to explore alternative avenues and may not wish to be too tied down to the domestic game.

What next?

There is another meeting of all 12 clubs next Tuesday, but with both blocs apparently at loggerheads, it will take a great deal of diplomacy to find the compromise the SPL needs.

The 10 have put forward their preferred option and it has been blocked. We must now wait for the Old Firm to reveal their hand.