Setanta facing end of the line

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Another emergency board meeting to try to stave off administration was held on Tuesday night with directors considering a last-ditch rescue package.

But it also emerged on Tuesday that BSkyB has refused a £50 million lifeline to the Irish pay-TV broadcaster, which is in crisis with a payment of more than £30 million due to the Premier League this week and backers refusing to advance it any more money.

Setanta's subscription services for new customers has also now become unavailable, with internet applicants flashed a message saying: "Oops! Something has gone wrong." Setanta's customer services confirmed to callers that new subscriptions were unavailable due to a "technical problem".

Setanta had asked Sky for £50 million and in return offered access to the live rights to 46 Premier League games next season as an add-on option to Sky Sports.

Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch said it is "a broadcaster not a bank", but insisted it had no wish to see Setanta go into administration.

Another broadcaster, ESPN, is favourite to step in and take over Setanta's Premier League games if it goes into administration.

The Premier League should not be too badly affected should Setanta go into administration as they have only won one of the six live broadcast packages for 2010 to 2013.

But the Football Association, which has a £150 million deal for England and FA Cup games with Setanta, and the Scottish Premier League have more significant problems, even though their agreements have been front-loaded in terms of cash being paid in advance.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith admitted he is concerned about the situation after Setanta failed to pay the final instalment of this season's TV deal last week, leaving the SPL to dip into its own coffers to distribute around £3 million to its 12 member clubs.