By Ian Roache

DUNDEE UNITED chairman Eddie Thompson (pictured) has hailed the bumper £125 million TV deal secured by the SPL to show Premier League games on Setanta Sports as “sensational” news.

The four-year contract with the broadcasters is the richest in the history of the Scottish game, being worth more than double the existing agreement.

It will take effect from the start of the 2010-11 season, once Setanta’s current arrangement expires.

Thompson has been heavily involved in the negotiations, which concluded at an Edinburgh hotel yesterday, and the Tannadice chief views the outcome as an extremely positive one.

He said, “We have been working on this for about two weeks now but the hard work has certainly been worth it.

“This is without a doubt the biggest ever TV deal in Scottish football history and I am delighted with the result.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that this could prove to be sensational news for every SPL club and safeguard each team for years to come.”

His fellow board member Derek Robertson said, “Dundee United welcome this news and we appreciate how hard our chairman and others have worked to achieve it over this past week or so.

“It is great news for our club and for Scottish football as a whole.

“If clubs are sensible in their financial planning then this deal can go a long way towards securing a very bright future for the SPL.”

The league’s executive chairman Lex Gold also believes the deal will have a hugely positive impact on member clubs.

“Ten years ago we spoke about delivering a brighter future for Scottish football,” he said.

“Today, as we look ahead to our next 10 years, we can do so with confidence.

“An investment on this scale—£125 million—marks the biggest-ever TV deal in Scottish football history.

“No commercial deal comes close to matching what has been achieved today by the SPL and Setanta Sports for our game.

“This is a step change for our clubs and will allow them to re-invest to make the Scottish game even stronger.”

Meanwhile, United fans can expect to see the best player of Euro 2008 at Tannadice when Barcelona visit for a glamour friendly.

Xavi, who shone in the star-studded midfield of newly-crowned European champions Spain, was voted the tournament’s top performer by UEFA’s technical panel.

The Barca ace, who is scheduled to be in the travelling party that will arrive in Scotland later this month, is likely to face the Tangerines on July 26.

Former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh, who chaired the voting panel, said, “Xavi epitomised the Spanish style of play.

“He was extremely influential.

“We are not all that surprised because, for more than a decade now, the top youth teams in Europe have been Spanish.

“We have been watching Xavi and others in this squad from a very young age.”

Xavi’s Barca clubmates Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol were also included in UEFA’s squad of the tournament which was selected by the same panel:

Goalkeepers—Buffon (Italy), Casillas (Spain), Van der Sar (Holland).

Defenders—Bosingwa (Portugal), Lahm (Germany), Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Puyol (Spain), Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfielders—Hamit Altintop (Turkey), Modric (Croatia), Senna (Spain), Xavi (Spain), Zyryanov (Russia), Ballack (Germany), Fabregas (Spain), Iniesta (Spain), Podolski (Germany), Sneijder (Holland).

Strikers—Arshavin (Russia), Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Torres (Spain), Villa (Spain).

The Tangerines are likely to face competition in their bid to sign Sunderland striker Roy O’Donovan on a loan deal, with Leeds United also understood to be interested in the Irishman.

United are on course for record season ticket sales after selling almost 4500 over the summer so far.

With a month still to go before the start of the new campaign, the club expect to shift even more, although their discount period ends on Sunday.