Blue Square Premier clubs face an anxious wait to find out if Setanta can fulfil their financial obligations to the league, according to Boro chief executive Bob Makin. Each Conference club receives up to �85,000 a year from the satellite broadcaster and

Blue Square Premier clubs face an anxious wait to find out if Setanta can fulfil their financial obligations to the league, according to Boro chief executive Bob Makin.

Each Conference club receives up to �85,000 a year from the satellite broadcaster and doubts have been raised whether they can afford to keep this contract going after the company defaulted on a �3m payment due to the Scottish Premier League.

Conference representatives are due to meet Setanta today (Wednesday) to discuss a way forward and Makin hopes the broadcaster can build on the viewing figures they were getting from their coverage of non league football.

"We are just like all the other clubs at the moment and anxiously waiting for any news," Makin told The Comet. "I understand there is going to be a meeting between some of the league representatives and Setanta today so we will await news from that.

"I know that the Conference has got an excellent relationship with Setanta and they have been delighted with the viewing figures they attracted last season.

"I believe some matches attracted higher figures than they were getting for big Scottish Premier League matches."

Setanta called an emergency board meeting last night but no definitive decision was made on its future as company founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O'Rourke seek �100m fresh investment.

Reports this morning indicate that the company is losing up to �100m a year after only getting 1.2m of the 1.9m of the subscribers needed to break even.

While Setanta frantically try and rein in some of their more extravagant contracts with the FA and the Premier League, it is hoped the company will look to keep their coverage of the Blue Square Premier going if the company can stay afloat.

Should the broadcaster go to the wall then Conference clubs face the prospect of plugging a �85,000 hole in their budgets for the coming season.