The Scottish Premier League will pay €3.4million from their own funds to their 12 member clubs after failing to receive money owed to them by Setanta Sports.

The SPL board met this morning - their second meeting in three days - where they looked at what funds they had available and took the decision to distribute the cash today in a bid to ease the financial pressure on the top-flight clubs.

Setanta were due to make the final payment of the season for showing live games on Monday but that €3.4million instalment had still not been received this evening.

The Irish-owned broadcaster is believed to be working behind the scenes and negotiations with the SPL will continue over the weekend.

It is understood the SPL board has had updates from their financial and legal advisors and will see what develops over the next 48 hours.

Setanta have already asked to renegotiate their four-year deal with the SPL after losing one of their contracts with the Barclays Premier League.

The 12 SPL clubs came to an agreement in April following Setanta’s request to change the terms of the contract due to begin at the start of the 2010-11 season, which was initially worth €142million.

Estimates claimed up to €23million could be wiped off the value of that increased deal but the apparent inability to meet one of the demands of their €15.3million annual contract raises further fears.