VOX POP: Have Rangers and Celtic outgrown the Scottish league?

CHARLIE NICHOLAS

EX-CELTIC AND ARSENAL

This is only surfacing because of the big results Celtic and Rangers have run up recently. The gap between them and the rest is worrying, but I remember scoring a hat-trick against Motherwell in 1982 when we won 7-0, so it's not new. The main problem is they have bigger resources - the other clubs can't match that. But the English Premiership does not need Celtic and Rangers. There is no interest in them down south and the Premiership is an exciting enough product on its own right now.

PAUL ELLIOT

EX-CELTIC AND CHELSEA

I would love to see Celtic and Rangers in the Premiership. They have the strength in depth to make a real addition to the league, whereas some of the promoted clubs from the Nationwide League just cannot live with the big boys once they are up. The Old Firm have no problem attracting top players because the support of both clubs is massive. They have outgrown Scotland, where although some clubs, like Kilmarnock, have come up the ladder, traditional rivals, like Aberdeen, have died off.

TERRY BUTCHER

DUNDEE UNITED COACH

I don't think they have outgrown Scottish football. Big scorelines happen as much in England now as Scotland, and there are still shocks here - Celtic have lost to St Johnstone and Motherwell beat Rangers. Hopefully, television money will now filter through the other Scottish Premier clubs the way it did in England and they can challenge more consistently. The Old Firm would certainly add to the Premiership, where there is such a gulf with the First Division, but it will never happen.

GARY McALLISTER

COVENTRY AND SCOTLAND

Celtic and Rangers would add to the English Premiership. I know there is a lot said about the Old Firm crowds, but it can't be appreciated until it is experienced, as a few of my old Leeds team-mates found out when we played Rangers in the European Cup in 1992. It's difficult for other Scottish clubs to compete financially with the Old Firm, but when I was with Motherwell we beat both of them. However, Fifa would probably demand we have only one national team, so I don't think it will ever happen.

JOHN COLLINS

EVERTON AND SCOTLAND

The Old Firm have outgrown Scotland, but they would be an asset to the Premiership. I knew when I moved from Celtic to Monaco that I'd left a massive club behind. The only thing wrong was that they played in the wrong league. Playing in front of 60,000 home fans must be great. But, without being disrespectful, Celtic and Rangers could probably field their reserves and not be embarrassed in the Scottish Premier. I've discovered that people in England don't look too highly on the Scottish game.

JAN MOLBY

EX-LIVERPOOL AND DENMARK

The concept is interesting, because there are moves for a Scandanavian Superleague involving the top four teams from Denmark, Sweden and Norway. A professional Scottish League would be worthless without the Old Firm. Celtic and Rangers can't escape their geography, although they would add to the Premiership. However, I don't think the weaker clubs would welcome them. With plans to reduce the league to 16, you could hardly see some wanting two more big clubs.

PHIL GORDON