Founding SPL chief executive Roger Mitchell has backed Celtic's decision to opt out of the Premier Sports TV deal.

It was revealed last night that Celtic had elected to disengage in an attempt to protect 3pm kick offs for their season ticket holders.

With just £75,000 on offer for games, relative chickenfeed to the Scottish champions, they have elected to maintain traditional times rather than have to change for TV.

The move has been widely celebrated by Celtic fans who see it as an example of the club looking after their core audience and Mitchell, now a prominent sports podcaster and angel investor operating from Lake Como, Italy, reckons they've made the right decision.

He wrote on X: "I’m gonna defend Neil here. All these things look easy from the outside. Everything he does he needs votes. The old firm, specifically Celtic, have never wanted the home games to be on TV packages. They need to protect season ticket revenues. Clubs need to think about live.


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"Just as the music business lost the cash cow of CDs, sport is going to lose the juicy media rights deals. Piracy a major reason for both. More attention for the live game. I agree with Celtic. And I agree with the SPL opt out clause."

Asked by a user of X why the club hasn't introduced a ticket exchange function, like the one operated by rivals Rangers, to increase crowds, Mitchell replied: "We proposed them one, which they ultimately rejected.

"They were utterly terrified that this was reduce the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) around season ticket waiting lists. Which is their everything. The idea that it’s hard to get into Celtic Park."