SPL representatives have claimed they will have an open-minded attitude when they meet senior Setanta officials today to discuss possible renegotiation of the four-year television deal struck last year.

The agreement, worth £125m, was to have started in season 2010-11 and run for four years.

However, the Irish broadcaster is reportedly keen to reduce the annual payment as well as the length of the contract.

The SPL were expected to insist that Setanta honour the existing deal.

The only way they may consider renegotiating was if they were to be given solid guarantees that there would be no further attempts to do so again further down the line.

Privately, though, some clubs believe that, in the current climate, a reduced deal is better than none at all.

They have expressed a willingness to work with Setanta to ensure the broadcaster stays afloat.

An SPL source said: "We will go into this meeting with an open mind.

"A lot has changed since the original deal was agreed and we have to take that into account.

"We feel it's better to try to work with Setanta rather than hang them out to dry. We don't want to watch them go out of business a few months later. That does nobody any good.

"From what has been said, Setanta are looking to trim the deal, not cut it in half, and if that's the case, then it would still be a very good deal."