AND the Murdochs go marching on, on, on. The deal which Scotland's Premier Division sides have reached with Mr Rupert Murdoch's Sky satellite channel is undoubtedly a good one for the clubs since it will earn them #45m a year, a record for live broadcasting rights. Sky obviously feels it is a price worth paying. But the agreement will inevitably strengthen its influence over the game. Anyone who doubts the emergence of a trend which we believe to be insidious needs look no further than the fact that the 30 live games to be screened each season will be played at five past six on Sunday evenings.

Rangers chairman David Murray maintains that the deal is in the best interests of the regular paying supporter but Sky's insistence on such a kick-off time and day patently is not in the ordinary fan's interests. These fans, the vast majority of whom are season ticket holders facing ever dearer prices for watching their teams, will have no option but to make that commitment on a day which, even in a secular age, remains one normally spent with the family. That will change, for the worse.

We also question whether the deal will be good for the armchair fan. Mr Murdoch's effective monopoly over live TV football will make it all the easier to insist on a pay-to-view scheme which will take the sport alienatingly far from the people and their game.