Doncaster, 39, was yesterday unveiled as the SPL's first chief executive for seven years and acknowledged he faces a number of challenges in his new role.

One of those is combating a perception Scottish football is on the slide, with questions raised over the standard of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League following a succession of disappointing results in Europe in the past year.

But Doncaster, who spent eight years as chief executive at Norwich, is adamant the SPL is still one of the top divisions in Europe.

"I think the quality of the product is not in doubt," he told Press Association Sport.

"I think that the SPL has a great standing within Europe. I'm very excited about the prospect of the SPL and if I weren't, I wouldn't be here."

Doncaster revealed one of his first tasks will be to identify alternative revenue streams for clubs who were banking on the £125million television deal with Setanta before the broadcaster went into administration last month.

The SPL may now be forced to settle for half that figure jointly paid for by Sky and ESPN.

Doncaster knows all about the pain of seeing a lucrative television deal go up in smoke.

He was a year into his tenure as Norwich chief executive when ITV Digital went bust back in 2002.

The broadcaster had a multi-million pound contract with the Football League and many clubs struggled to cope without the windfall they had budgeted for.

There are parallels with the plight of SPL sides following the demise of Setanta but Doncaster insisted English clubs bounced back and is certain the SPL can do the same.

Recalling Norwich's troubles, he said: "It was a difficult time but the clubs got through it at that time and I think they're stronger for it.

"If I were concerned about the prospects of the SPL, I wouldn't be here.

"I'm not concerned, I'm very excited about the prospects and the challenges ahead.

"I think everyone at the moment, throughout the whole world - let alone football - has challenges.

"Football is not immune from those at all and I understand from a club point of view exactly what they're going through.

"I've been through that with Norwich City for the last number of years."

Doncaster is the SPL's first chief executive since Roger Mitchell resigned in 2002, ironically after the collapse of another TV deal.

The new man does not have an untarnished track record, having resigned from Norwich following their relegation to Coca-Cola League One.

Doncaster, who has served on the boards of both the Football Association and Football League, does not want that failure and the fact he is an Englishman to be held against him.

"I hope I'll be welcomed," he said. "I came from London and Bristol to Norfolk and was something of a foreigner, a stranger there. I worked with people there and I'll look forward to working with people here."