Comment by Dan Webster

I think Scottish Football could survive without the Old Firm but would maybe struggle to secure sponsorship and TV revenue, but TV is killing the game so that might not be a bad thing. The SPL is very predictable and boring with Rangers or Celtic the favourites to win the Championship every year, so without them included the league would be more interesting.

When clubs have a chance of winning something their fans are more interested in following them. When Falkirk used to meet Dunfermline in the 1^st division and were challenging each other for the league title, there would be crowds of around 10,000, yet the same fixture in the top league when they were competing to avoid relegation, the attendances would drop to around 6,000. Hibernian also had their biggest following the season they won the 1^st Division.

 Comment by Row S aka Hopestreetender

The Old Firm are using the SPL until something better comes along and they will jump at the chance of playing in the English Premiership or European League if they are invited and they wouldn’t give a damn about Scottish Football if that opportunity did arise.

I just wish the planned breakaway had gone ahead years ago, I don’t think we would miss them now as much as we would have 10 years ago as their fans do not fill away grounds like they used to.

If they were playing in a tougher league and losing more often than not then the glory hunters who follow them just now might just start supporting their local teams.

Scottish fans love their football and the league would soon find its level without Rangers and Celtic. I’m quite sure clubs would not have to revert to part time status but would have to cut their cloth accordingly to meet any reduction in sponsorship deals.

We have a lot of talented youngsters playing in our country and I believe we would have a strong competitive league structure without the Old Firm that would still attract fans to our stadiums.

Comment by Super Ally