Old Firm back down

The Old Firm accept less money and less power

The Old Firm have conceded ground to the other 10 clubs in the Scottish Premier League in an attempt to win a television deal for the coming season.

And new Rangers chairman John McClelland is confident a deal can be brokered before the new term kicks off.

His club, along with Glasgow rivals Celtic, have agreed to a voting system that will end their veto on decisions within Scotland's top flight.

And they have also agreed to a cut in the percentage of television income taken by the two clubs who dominate the Scottish game.

It's fair to say we have probably climbed down on these issues

Rangers chairman John McClelland

The Old Firm and the other 10 clubs have been at loggerheads since April, when Rangers and Celtic withdrew their support for the league's own proposed pay-per-view television channel.

That led the other 10 to announce their intention to quit the SPL and set up their own league without the Old Firm in two year's time.

With Sky Sports not renewing their deal to broadcast live SPL football, BBC Scotland was left as the only party still in the running to cover next season.

Now McClelland, who succeeded David Murray as Rangers chairman on Friday, has revealed: "Some progress has been made and I am hopeful it will all be sorted out quite quickly.

"We have agreed to alter the voting system from 11-1 to 8-4 and that is a significant change.

"Had that structure, for instance, been in place last season the SPL channel would have been voted in.

"We have also agreed to cut our percentage of the distribution of income from television and other commercial activities from 40% to around one-third of the total.

"The other clubs want that reduced further, but we feel we have gone as far as we can on that one.

"It's fair to say we have probably climbed down on these issues and it would be a shame if we couldn't agree at this stage and move on for the sake of Scottish football."

John McClelland (right) hopes for a new deal

One of the sticking points over the original deal had been the Old Firm's reluctance to settle for remaining in the SPL.

The pair both held talks with the Nationwide League over a possible move to England, but plans fell through when authorities stood against any move south.

Rangers have now virtually given up on a move to English football, but McClelland maintains that a move to a European league is a possibility.

"The Premiership idea is on the back burner," he said. "I can assure you there are no secret talks going on with them or the Nationwide League.

"Maybe there was too much hype and it wasn't going to happen quickly, if ever.

"There are alternatives to pursue, maybe in the shape of a European League or re-structured Uefa competitions.

"We also have to look at access to more British and European cups."