{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Finance Expert Exclusive: £1m Rangers-Celtic plan 'Increasingly Likely' after Ibrox reveal
Celtic and Rangers’ colours might soon be seen in the lower tiers of Scottish football as the Old Firm B-team plans gather speed — a big boost for the finances of the lower leagues.
That is according to football accountancy wizard and new Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to correspondent Adam Williams as the Old Firm sides continue to push for their reserve outfits to enter the Scottish pyramid as League Two teams.
If successful, the plan would see the league restructured before the start of the 2021-22 campaign and £1m has reportedly been offered to the SFA as a sweetener in the deal.
Maguire believes that this project is becoming more and more plausible as the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic begin to take hold.
He told Football Insider: “Its likelihood is increasing, as Scottish football at the lower level has been hit significantly by Covid.
“It will provide additional interest in the game because Celtic and Rangers dominate Scottish football to a far greater extent than we see here in England.
Get Exclusive transfers news at Football Insider's YouTube TV channel
“So I think it could go ahead if it financially benefits those lower leagues because the other clubs in those divisions will be able to get bigger crowds because Rangers and Celtic fans are all over Scotland.
“If they’re going to Elgin or somewhere like this, it’s a chance for their fans in other parts of Scotland to see them play in the kit, and that’s very important I think for those fans.
“They’ll easily sell the tickets. No problem.”
While they might not be feeling the pinch quite as much as lower league teams, Rangers and Celtic have not been immune to the financial impact of the pandemic either.
In November, Rangers said they would need to raise an additional £20m to cover pandemic-related losses, while Celtic’s overall turnover fell by 15.8% over the last financial year.