Spiers on Sport: Without Celtic and Rangers, if it comes to it, Scottish football will be a fine thing

When he paused for breath, and was intercepted by a reporter on Wednesday, the endearing Mr Desmond once more got off on one of his favourite themes: Celtic’s escape from Scottish football and the creation of the long-mooted British League.

“Celtic should have the opportunity to play in the best league,” said Desmond. “Hopefully, we can get into the Premiership [sic] or a league that is more a British thing.”

Well dear me…how many years is it now since we first heard this? On a personal level I think I first wrote/reported on this in print back in 1995. That is 20 years now since the plan was first put into incubation.

Or is it even at that stage? Has a British Football League even been conceived yet as a plan or idea?

Desmond isn’t giving up on behalf of Celtic. He wants it to happen. He believes his club is stifled in all sorts of ways by playing in Scotland: in money, in ambition, in growth. Doubtless, he is correct about all these things.

I admit to two things here. First, I think Celtic (or Rangers) competing in an English football environment would be thrilling.

Second, I think what was left in terms of domestic football in Scotland, once it found its level, would be a very interesting and enjoyable league.

Celtic, just like Rangers, can come clean on this: they would love to be in England. It would make for a feast of football for the hundreds of thousands of supporters who follow the club.

Years ago Arsene Wenger commented that it would very enjoyable to be bringing Arsenal to Glasgow to play Celtic or Rangers on league business. It would be a great new adventure for the Arsenal fans, and the crowds would boom again at Ibrox and Celtic Park to take it all in.

Once they gained access to such a set-up, the two Glasgow giants would flourish. They might well be managed badly – that’s another matter – but in their new environment Celtic and Rangers would have the chance to grow a formidable financial muscle. Their public appeal would see to it.

But today it is still a pipe-dream. And, until that day when a TV exec insists on a paradigm-shift in British football, and offers a whole new wad of cash if Celtic and Rangers are involved, then it remains a distant scenario.

If or when it happens, and Celtic and Rangers leave, what would the rest of Scottish football be like? Pretty enjoyable, I believe.

There are brilliant, compelling sagas to be had around Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hibs, Hearts and the rest. The more I take stock of the Scottish game, and place it in its historic and cultural context, the more I value and admire it.

The absence of Celtic and Rangers would not “kill” Scottish football – there is so much more life to it than that. Yes, the finances would change, and the tectonic plates would shift a bit. A new level would have to be found, with different expectations.

But “death”? I don’t think so.

A Scottish football championship being fought over by our remaining, historic clubs could be a fine spectacle, involving fresh generations of new Scottish players and coaches.

In this context, for instance, is it really conceivable that a championship going to the wire between, say, Aberdeen and Dundee United, would not attract supporters? Why would fans not want to see their teams win, especially in the context of city or regional rivalries?

The newspapers would cover it. So would the (ever changing world of) TV and radio stations. To me it is an utter illusion to think that a Scottish football league minus the Glasgow pair would die on its feet.

On the contrary, I can think of plenty ways in which our game would seem fresh, more valid, and more authentic.

But we are years away from this yet. There is not a shred of evidence to suggest anything imminent is about to happen.

Dermot Desmond, I guess, might play another 1000 rounds of golf before this new world suddenly dawns.

That’s a lot of lunches, a lot more refreshing evening quaffs.