THE television companies had the SPFL exactly where they wanted them a couple of years ago when it came to how much money the league received from the respective deals.

Everyone knew that Celtic would be champions before a ball was kicked because they had the most money, the biggest squad and the best players.

The TV firms knew that there would be no competition and the contracts were obviously worth less with Rangers not being in the top flight.

Now, we have got the Old Firm games back and that is a card that the SPFL will have to play when they look to negotiate the next deals.

A delegation led by Ralph Topping and Neil Doncaster met with BT Sport in London on Thursday. It could result in Scottish football securing its biggest ever broadcast package.

The current deals were extended in September 2015 but there is no harm in sitting round the table with BT and Sky Sports and looking at what could be done next time and the SPFL have a stronger case for more cash this time around.

The derby is one of the most watched games of the season in Britain and you could have five or six matches between Rangers and Celtic now when you take into account the cup games.

I would hope that the SPFL can get more money out of these talks and that will obviously benefit every club in the country because there is a bigger pot to be shared around.

Sky and BT have had Scottish football on the cheap for the last few years but now we have got something to bargain with going into these talks.

The current contracts run until 2020 but hopefully when the next deals kick in the clubs can look forward to receiving more money from the deals.