Merging Scottish football league with English counterparts could be a winner

Unlike with some of your columnists, I nearly always find myself in complete agreement with what Brian Wilson writes. His articles are always insightful and prescient.

However, I did not expect him to share my desire to see the Scottish football league merge into the English leagues, much as the Welsh have done (“Holyrood will get more powers, but how will they be used?”, 15 September).

It seems so parochial that teams from the higher echelons of the Scottish game should deny themselves the opportunity to be part of something much bigger and lucrative than our present Premiership and Championship.

It might be that the 20 or so teams involved would initially find themselves in league one or league two of a new “British League” but at least, with the potential financial rewards, commensurate with the larger market available to them, they would have the opportunity to move up to the Championship and possibly one or two even to the Premier League.

Although a combination of the vested interests in the Scottish game as well as those for whom the word “British” is anathema would fight tooth and nail to oppose such a move, I cannot see, provided the English would have us, how it would not benefit the Scottish league clubs. Who would ever have thought that clubs such as Cardiff City and Swansea would be operating in the sort of financial sphere that most Scottish clubs can only dream of?

We all know that the Old Firm clubs would be off to England at the drop of a hat and there would obviously be financial consequences for the others if that ever came to pass, but most of the teams in the top two Scottish leagues could survive in a new (possibly five-league British set-up.

The disparity between Scottish clubs and those in England and on the continent will only get worse unless we join them.

As a Hibs fan I would relish the prospect from both a sporting and a financial perspective.

ALAN THOMSON Kilcamb Paddock, Strontian

Brian Wilson’s recent article is a cogent reflection of the Scottish National Party’s governance of Scotland. However, it was his reference to the First Minister’s response to a Tony Blair idea which really drew my attention – inevitably and justifiably he is an easy target.

Apparently Ms Sturgeon commented that his idea of a British league “was proof of how little (pause for condescending half-laugh) he understood the Scottish psyche”. This cheap and irritating tactic is often used by the lady for a wide range of situations – usually when she is unable to offer a relevant reply – and was gained at the feet of her predecessor.

Returning to the British Football League proposal, it may be only a coincidence that last Tuesday Brian’s team found their ambitions in European football thwarted by the reality of Scotland’s football status and commercial clout. This denies their large support the benefits enjoyed by many equivalent “auld enemy” clubs.

Indeed, fans of both Old Firm teams who are ardent SNP supporters must be in a quandary – would separation from the UK deny their teams a possible opportunity to achieve their ambitions?

As Hearts supporters Alex Salmond and I might even agree that even second tier clubs would benefit from a British league!

JAMES BUIST Camphill Road, Broughty Ferry