Celtic will be gunning for a record fourth Premier League title this season but, on the other side of the coin, their arch-rivals Rangers are determined to end their drought.

Rangers have failed to win the domestic league title for three seasons and for their fans, that amounts to a football tragedy since they know that every year they miss out on the crown, their Glasgow rivals Celtic will be celebrating once again.

No other clubs in Scotland can realistically hope to break the Celtic-Rangers hegemony at present. The last time a club other than the Old Firm duo led the roost was in 1984-85 when Aberdeen clinched the title.

Celtic will leave no stone unturned in their bid to win their fourth successive Premier League title for the first time in their history.

One has to go back to the early 1970s for the last time the Bhoys triumphed in the top division for more than three seasons in a row. From 1966 to 1974, Celtic were the dominant force of Scottish football, winning the league title for nine successive seasons.

For the record, in the lower ranks of the third division, bankrupt Gretna have been replaced by Annan Athletic.

The 12 members of the Scottish Premier League have received a significant cash boost, a 125m contract with Setanta Sports who have retained the rights to broadcast SPL matches live for a further four years, until 2014.

SPL executive chairman Lex Gold said: "£125 millions marks the biggest-ever TV deal in Scottish football history."

Significant signings

Champions Celtic have added more weight to their attack after signing Greek international Georgios Samaras from Manchester City for £3 million. Samaras left a good impression on manager Gordon Strachan during his loan spell at Celtic Park last season, instantly becoming a fans' favourite.

Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov had a headache appointing a new coach after being rejected by a number of candidates in Britain and abroad.

Romanov was relieved to hit the nail on the head when he reached an agreement with 44-year-old coach Czabo Laszlo, who managed at Ferencvaros and Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Laszlo, whose last job was as national coach of Uganda, has signed a three-year deal and replaces caretaker manager Steve Frail. The Romania-born Laszlo accepted Romanov's condition to work closely with sport director Anatoly Korobochka.

Rangers boss Walter Smith has brought in three forwards to increase his attacking options after his squad was stretched to the limit by a long and strenuous season with their capture of both domestic cups and the lengthy route to the UEFA Cup final.

Northern Ireland's Kyle Lafferty, a 6ft 4in forward signed for £3.2m from Burnley, joined Kenny Miller from Derby and Andrius Velicka from Hearts. Miller, who cost £2m, is in his second spell at Ibrox Park.

Celtic will open their league campaign on Sunday, August 10 at home to St Mirren in the first match to be televised live. Runners-up Rangers will play Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium. The Bairns had a good season, finishing top of the relegation pool, three points behind Hibernian.

Motherwell, having finished third last season, will face Hearts at Tynecastle in a potentially nail-biting match.

Aberdeen will host Inverness at Pittodrie and newcomers Hamilton, under the management of Billy Reid, will stay at their New Douglas Park to entertain Dundee United.

August 30 will see the first Old Firm derby of the 2008-09 season with Celtic having home advantage over Rangers.

Opening programme (Aug. 9-11): Aberdeen vs Inverness; Falkirk vs Rangers (13.30); Hamilton vs Dundee United; Hearts vsMotherwell

Sunday: Celtic vs St Mirren (13.30)

Monday: Hamilton vs Dundee Utd (20.45)

Club call

Aberdeen
Manager: Jimmy Calderwood.
Ins: Gary McDonald, mf from Oldham Athletic − free; Bertrand Bossu, gk from Walsall − free; Sammy Stewart, mf from Glenavon − free; Mark Kerr, mf from Dundee United − free; Charlie Mulgrew, def from Wolves − undisclosed fee; Francesco Sandaza (Spain), fwd from Valencia 'B' − free.

Celtic
Manager: Gordon Strachan.
Ins: Pat McCourt, mf from Derry City - £200,000; Georgios Samaras, fwd from Manchester City − £3m; Matty Hughes, def from Rochdale - undisclosed.

Dundee United
Manager: Craig Levein.
Ins: Scott Robertson, mf from Dundee − free; Michael McGovern, gk from Celtic − free; Andis Shala, fwd from VFR Mannheim − free; Paul Dixon, def from Dundee − free; Willo Flood, mf from Cardiff − loan; Warren Feeney, fwd from Cardiff − loan.

Falkirk
Manager: John Hughes.
Ins: Jackie McNamara, def from Aberdeen − free; Neil McCann, mf from Hearts − free; Lee Bullen, def from Sheffield Wednesday − free; Dermot McCaffrey, def from Hibernian − free; Erik Schultz-Eklund, def from Gretna − free; Burton O'Brien, mf from Sheffield Wednesday − free; Ashley Young, mf from Bury − free; Arnau Riera, mf from Sunderland − loan.

Hamilton
Manager: Billy Reid.
Ins: Sean Murdoch, gk from Dunfermline − free; Mark Corcoran, mf from St Mirren − free; Derek Lyle, fwd from Dundee − free; Lucas-Jordan Akins from Huddersfield − free.

Hearts
Manager: Czabo Laszlo.
Ins: David Obua, def from Kaizer Chiefs − free.

Hibernian
Manager: Mixu Paatlainen.
Ins: David van Zanten, def from St Mirren - free; Joe Keenan, mf from Melbourne Victory − free; Steven Thicot (France), def from Nantes − free.

Inverness CT
Manager: Craig Brewster.
Ins: Andy Barrowman, fwd from Ross County − free; Lionel Djebi-Zadi, def from SC Verl − free; Ryan Esson, gk from Hereford − free.

Kilmarnock
Manager: Jim Jefferies.
Ins: Allan Russell, fwd from Airdrie − free; Gavin Skelton, mf from Gretna − free; Conor Sammon, fwd from Derry − free.

Motherwell
Manager: Mark McGhee.
Ins: Bob Malcolm, mf - unattached.

Rangers
Manager: Walter Smith.
Ins: Kenny Miller, fwd from Derby − £2m; Andrius Velicka, fwd from Viking Stavanger − £1m; Kyle Lafferty, fwd from Burnley − £3m.

St Mirren
Manager: Gus MacPherson.
Ins: Dennis Wyness, fwd from Inverness − free; Tom Brighton, fwd Millwall − free; Jack Ross, def from Falkirk − free; Steven Robb, mf from Dundee United − free.