The league today announced they have issued an invitation to tender for those 46 games.

The announcement raises a question mark against a possible rescue package being negotiated by Setanta's directors. It is understood that the Irish broadcaster paid the league £10million today but another £20million to £25million is due by Friday.

If Setanta they do not pay up then the broadcast rights for next season will be sold after the bid deadline expires on Monday.

The Premier League said in a statement: "Although the Premier League would like to provide Setanta with as much time as possible to re-arrange its finances, the start of the 2009/10 Season is only two months away, with the release of fixtures imminent.

"Accordingly, the Premier League has notified Setanta that if necessary the existing licence agreement between us will be terminated, coming into effect if Setanta does not meet certain contractual requirements of the Premier League on or before Friday 19 June 2009.

"In view of the shortage of time before the start of next season, the Premier League has determined, with the agreement of Setanta, that it shall today issue its Invitation to Tender (ITT) in respect of the 46 UK Live Matches for the 2009/10 Season only.

"The bid deadline has been set for Monday 22 June but we will give all prospective bidders notice late on Friday 19 June if Setanta have met their conditions, thereby negating the need for bids to be submitted."

The Premier League cannot sell all their live matches to one single broadcaster.

That means that Sky would only be able to bid for 23 of Setanta's 46 Games next season as it already holds the rights to show the other 92 games next season.

American broadcaster ESPN would be expected to bid for at least one if not both of Setanta's two packages of games for next season.

Setanta also hold the rights for one package of 23 games for the 2010-13 seasons and if they default on their payments those also look likely to be up for grabs with ESPN again the favourite to win them.

Setanta's directors are trying to organise a rescue package and have had talks with Access Industries, owned by Russian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik.

It has been reported that Endemol, the TV production company that makes Big Brother, could also take a stake in Setanta.