The ongoing fate of Celtic & Rangers

Celtic Park is missing its Old Firm Derbies

Celtic and Rangers have dominated Scottish Football for a generation but the demise and fall of Rangers has not only effected them, but also their great rivals...

There is no doubt that Celtic were affected by Rangers' demotion and continue to be so, for one more season at least.

Rangers' liquidation in 2012 meant that the 'Old Firm' derby which had been played between themselves and Celtic, was going to be missing from the Scottish football calendar for the first time since the outbreak of the Second World War.

Whilst Rangers entered Scottish football at the lowest league tier in the professional set-up, Celtic won the Premier League by 16 points, and thus set about a dull set of results where Celtic were devoid of any real competition. Some opponents may disagree, but Celtic barely got out of first gear to romp to the title. At the start of the campaign when Celtic had European aspirations, other clubs jockeyed for positions above the Glasgow giants, but there was always the feeling that Celtic had the edge at the turn of the year.

Meanwhile, Rangers cruised to the title of the third division. Their nearest challengers finished 24 points adrift as the Gers prepared their assault on getting themselves back to where they belong. They then blasted their way through the next division to secure promotion by early March, this was the earliest anyone had won the title for 39 years, finishing 39 points clear of second-placed Dunfermline Athletic.

Both clubs are on a collision course to face each other again in Scotland's top division, although Rangers will face a challenge to the Scottish Championship title from Hibernian and to a lesser extent Hearts, with no Edinburgh side in the top tier for the first time in Scottish Football history. Celtic will be under new management following Neil Lennon's resignation, with the new man, Ronny Deila, already complaining about the lack of 'big teams' in Scotland.

Deila has a point to a certain extent, although arguments would come thick and fast from the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United and Motherwell about the size of their clubs, as well as the Edinburgh duo albeit in the second tier. This has long been the discussion about the state of Scottish Football as a whole though, with all the best players leaving after a short while forcing most clubs to rebuild.

Rangers and Celtic have the edge though with their fanatical support. At times it can get out of hand, but make no doubt about it, their loyalty is what makes the two clubs the nation's football powerhouses.

All clubs in Scotland look forward to a visit from either of these two clubs, a couple of major pay-days in the season which certainly makes the balance sheet a little more pleasing on the eye. Rangers' demotion certainly cost a few clubs although the Scottish Football Association also felt it in the pocket.

The SFA had a deal on the table from two broadcasting giants in Sky and ESPN, worth around 80 million. As soon as it was announced that Rangers were being removed from the Scottish Premier League, the deal was scrapped and replaced with a chunk of cash missing. The new proposed deal was now worth 50 million. So 30 million pounds was removed from the Scottish game in a flash, and this of course would have an impact on the Scottish grassroots.

Celtic need Champions League funds to help them afford the wages for their players, they pay the biggest in Scotland. The Bhoys have at least just been returned to the Champions League qualifying stages, despite a 6-1 aggregate defeat, as their opponents Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player in the second leg.

Scottish Football needs Rangers and Celtic back together battling for supremacy at the top of the Scottish football tree, because without them as a double act, the future for the game North of the border does not look good.