What now for the future of Scottish football after the news that Rangers will be forced to play in the country’s fourth tier next season?
The saving grace of the Scottish Premier League for the 15 years plus is that there has at least been two teams capable of winning the division.
The fierce rivalry between Rangers and Celtic has meant there has always been a steely competitiveness which attracts viewers and fans from around the world, to watch the famous Old Firm clashes.
It has also helped attract quality players to both clubs, and the exodus of players from Rangers could echo itself in future years.
If next year’s SPL proves to be a cakewalk for Celtic as expected, don’t be surprised if disillusioned players from the club quit, seeking a more competitive division.
The SPL needs a boost from rival clubs, such as Motherwell or Dundee United, to challenge Celtic.
If they can’t, it won’t just be the top players who begin to move away, fans will do so too. There is only one thing worse than a league regularly won by two teams, and it is a league regularly won by one team, a foregone conclusion almost.
Should ticket attendances drop across the board, and television companies losing interest, money will be lost from the game, and the effect will be felt not just in the Premier League, but right down through the three lower tiers.
Now we are not suggesting Rangers should not pay the price for their sins. There is every reason they should start from the bottom and work their way up; Fiorentina did it in Italy more than a decade ago after reaching insolvency.
But given the financial struggles of Scottish football, compared to the then gleaming rich Serie A, you might think the powers-that-be and the clubs themselves would assess the wider picture before making their decision.
Of course time has not been on their side, the authorities were rushed into making a decision with the start of the season just weeks away.
But it is a real issue whether Scottish football can survive, or thrive in Rangers absence from the top flight. It may do, it may be good for the game, but by sending them down to division three, they have maximised the risk if it is the wrong move.
If an uncompetitive SPL becomes a turn-off and financial mess, it may not be until 2015 that Rangers win promotion back to the top flight. We are talking about a three year gamble, and the Scottish game could suffer a lot in those three years.
It is why the vote taken by Scottish Football Clubs is a principled one, but a risk. For they too could find themselves up against the wall soon, and their vote could have played a part in their demise.
It all makes talk of re-structuring the Scottish Leagues increasingly likely. It is being discussed that instead of four divisions, they are extended to make two and a 16 team SPL. The SPL themselves are believed to be keen on the idea, and want to get talks underway.
At a time of uncertainty in Scottish football, you can be sure of one thing, whichever decision is taken, opinion will stay divided and the views of Rangers fans, Celtic fans, and everybody else will remain as entrenched as ever.
image: © Tom Brogan
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