Rangers have to take it on the chin if Celtic are named champions, says Barry Ferguson

Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson has called for country’s senior leagues to be increased in size.

And the one-time Rangers star maintains his old club will have to take it on the chin if this season cannot be completed and Celtic are awarded the Premier League title.

Ferguson had taken Kelty Hearts to a six-point lead at the top of the Lowland League before the coronavirus outbreak brought football to a halt.

Under normal circumstances, they would have been strong favourites to go on to play Highland League champions Brora Rangers in a play-off.

The winners would then play League Two’s bottom club to try to gain promotion.

Ferguson doesn’t want to be awarded the title without completing the season, but accepts that may well happen.

He said: “I would rather win it fair and square by getting the games played.

“But, if I’m being honest, I think that will be really difficult and I don’t think there will be any football played until next season.

“I think we have to give it a time limit.

“When the Highland League made the decision about Brora, I was surprised but that was the way they wanted it.

“I don’t think the season should be declared null and void.

“We have to give the SPFL a bit of time. They have hard decisions to make.

“My preferred choice would be to reconstruct the leagues and make it a bit different.

“I would make the leagues a bit bigger and I think it would make Scottish football better.”

Ferguson knows any decision to declare the Scottish season over and award Celtic a ninth title in a row will not go down well with fans of Rangers.

He said: “I’m the manager of a team sitting on top of a league and I wouldn’t want to be crowned champions.

“But if that’s the way the decision is made, would I take it? Of course I would.

“As a Rangers fan myself, would I be happy? No, I wouldn’t, but the leagues have to make a decision.

“Some people will be happy and some will be unhappy.

“The SPFL have a really tough decision to make and we have to respect what they decide.”