The Scottish Premier League's 10 non-Old Firm clubs have been planning to ditch Celtic and Rangers for two years, Hearts chairman Chris Robinson has claimed.
Scottish football is deeply divided over the collapse of the SPL TV venture, which was voted down by the Old Firm last week.
This prompted the 10 remaining SPL clubs to declare they were prepared to set up a new league without the Glasgow giants, whose efforts to move out of Scotland have so far been blocked.
Robinson told The Sunday Mail: "We have been planning for life without Rangers and Celtic for the last two years.
"There would be major cuts and all the clubs are revisiting their forecasts and business plans.
"But we are prepared to suffer for a year or two until we can increase the level of competition and interest in the league."
The Old Firm are believed to be keen on securing their own television rights but Robinson insisted that would not happen.
He said: "There will be no yield by any of the 10 clubs to the assertion that rights fall to clubs individually.
"That would survive even a legal challenge and even if it didn't there is no way the clubs would play the Old Firm."
The 12 clubs are due to meet again on Tuesday.
PA