MARK WARBURTON believes Scotland should switch to a 16-team Premiership before it is too late.
The Rangers manager advocates the expansion of the country’s top flight to increase quality and bring in much-needed cash into the game.
It would mean teams, including the Old Firm, only meeting twice per season, but Warburton believes the bigger picture is more important than age-old rivalries.
“Speaking as a guy who’s come into Scottish football this season, the obvious thing is we have to find a way to increase investment,” said Warburton.
“All I hear about is the gulf to down south £100m for coming last in the Premier League. The numbers are mind-boggling.
“Look at the transfer market this summer. Look at the teams bidding £6m, £7m, up to £10m for a player in the Championship.
“Where would Celtic’s budget sit in the English Championship? I don’t know TENTH maybe?
“So the biggest club in Scotland right now in terms of the Premiership, where would they come in the English Championship and that’s irrespective of all the English Premier League clubs ahead of them.
“How many years ago was it that Rangers and Celtic were in the top five payers in British football? It must be in the last 20 years.
“In that time, the change has been staggering.
“Right now everyone is talking about it but no action is being taken.
“That tells you Scottish football has to move as quickly as possible to rectify that situation, because there are obviously problems. And the gap is only going to get bigger.
“I always hear fans saying ‘Player X isn’t worth that much money’. Yes he is, because supply and demand dictates what someone is prepared to pay.”
For the former City trader, that means the biggest clubs being brave enough to scrap the current system in which they can meet opponents four times a season in the League alone.
“Should we expand the Premiership? I think the move to a 16-team league would be a viable solution,” said Warburton.
“I’m sure there are arguments against and for, and everyone would have a valid case.
“But football’s about opinions and that would be an answer to it.
“But you have to look at the quality of product, the variety of product and what appeals.
“People have been trying to get me to eat my words for saying I don’t think there is a gulf between the Premiership and those in the Championship.
“Yes, we lost to St Johnstone.
“But the fact is Aberdeen lost to Hibs, Morton beat Motherwell so hang on a second.
“And I honestly think playing teams four, five or six times a season is a disincentive for fans. Playing teams that often can lead to overkill.
“Obviously I know there is an argument that would not apply to the matches between Rangers and Celtic.
“But I think anyone involved in the process has to look at what’s best for Scottish football. What’s best for the long-term picture.
“If it is always about short-term fixes, you’re never going to make significant progress in fixing what is definitely a problem. They have to look at the quality of the product.
“I’m looking at things from a football perspective, but some short-term pain for long-term gain could be very relevant here.
“I’m sure Rangers going away and taking 7-8,000 supporters to a game is an injection of cash which is much-needed and clubs might lose that for one game.
“At the same time, I believe in the longer term the health of Scottish football would be better and see some investment coming in.”I knew Mark Warburton would be a winner for Rangers, says Bert Konterman – click here to read more
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