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FA planning rights sell off
The Football Association face the need to cover a £100million gap in their finances to minimise the effect on grass-roots football after Setanta went into administration.
Setanta's long-expected collapse was confirmed yesterday and the FA will now sell off the rights to England and FA Cup matches previously held by the Irish broadcaster.
Setanta were 12 months into a four-year deal with the FA worth 150million, and it is understood 100million was still to be paid.
FA chief executive Ian Watmore is confident there will be significant interest in the rights but any shortfall will be a cut in profits rather than a loss – though that would mean less money for grass-roots football.
Watmore said: "Obviously it's very disappointing that Setanta have gone into administration – and we have every sympathy for everyone affected.
"Unfortunately, while the FA were able to agree on a way forward with Setanta, this has not been possible, due to the problems they encountered in other areas of their business."
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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