The SPFL has dropped plans to launch an independent review of how they handled Rangers' use of Employee Benefit Trusts and subsequent events at Ibrox.

The league had written to the Scottish FA proposing that both bodies launch a joint review of their governance of the situation in recent years.

However, Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan wrote to member clubs explaining that they would be refusing the invitation and that Scottish football would be damaged by "raking over the coals" of recent events.

Now, the SPFL have said that while disappointed at the Scottish FA stance, they will now be ending the matter and won't begin a review on their own.

In a statement released after a board meeting, a spokesman said: "The SPFL board is disappointed in the Scottish FA's decision not to participate in an independent review.

"The SPFL board still believes that an independent review, promoted jointly by the Scottish FA and SPFL, would have resulted in a better understanding of the procedures and processes adopted by football's governing bodies.

"Such a review would also have enabled any lessons learned to be implemented for the future benefit of the game in Scotland."

SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan added: "The SPFL Board has been clear that any meaningful review would have had to be carried out in association with the Scottish FA and with the full and active co-operation of both organisations.

"The SPFL Board has therefore concluded that it cannot, by itself, take forward an effective independent review."

STV understands that the initial decision taken to call for a review was unanimously agreed at the first meeting of the new SPFL board in the summer, and that Rangers' managing director was privy to the discussions.

Thursday's meeting, which was held by conference call, led to agreement that there would be no point in pursuing an investigation which wouldn't encompass both organisations.

The Scottish FA decision to reject calls for the review prompted Celtic to accuse the organisation of lacking "transparency, accountability and leadership" and to release correspondence between Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and SFA counterpart Stewart Regan where the Scottish champions repeatedly called for the matter to be reconsidered.

Hibernian released a statement saying that they backed the Scottish FA decision and called for Scottish football to concentrate on the future of the national game.