The 10 non-Old Firm clubs have declared they will hand in their resignation after failing to agree with Rangers and Celtic over plans to change the voting structure.

Bryan Jackson, Motherwell's administrator, said: 'The 10 SPL clubs do intend to resign in the next 24 hours.'

The 10 clubs knew they had to make their move before the start of the new season on Saturday.

The SPL constitution states that there must be a two-year waiting period before resignations can come into effect so any delay would have meant a whole extra year of waiting.

The threat issued by the SPL clubs, therefore, to the Old Firm is that the SPL would cease to exist in two years' time and be immediately replaced by a new league with the rules set by the 10 clubs.

Celtic and Rangers would be likely to be invited to join it - but only under the other clubs' terms.

A lot can happen in two years, of course, and Jackson said he hoped a compromise could be reached sooner rather than later.

He said: 'I think there was a conciliatory attitude that hopefully is going to permeate through.

'But as there has been no progress to date, that is the reason why there are going to be resignations.

'Hopefully, matters will be resolved. Dialogue will continue but, at this stage, the resignations will be going ahead.'

The new television deal with the BBC, a two-year arrangement believed to be worth around £15m, was given the go-ahead however.

Again, it had been in doubt because the Old Firm could not reach agreement with the others, but last night both Glasgow clubs let it be known that they were willing to make it become reality.

Jackson added: 'Obviously I'm very happy that this is now going to go through. That was very important for everybody.

'I'm disappointed it has taken so long, but pleased that it's going to happen now.'

Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod said the club's decision to leave the SPL has left Scottish football with an uncertain future.

He said: 'We are extremely disappointed at the action the 10 have taken.