UPPING THE ANTE

With Rangers back in the mix, Celtic have increased their own firepower in a bid to see off all comers.

Many clubs in the top division have undoubtedly felt the pinch over the past four years having drawn up their budgets on the assumption that twice a year Rangers would bring a vast travelling support to their grounds. But all have survived.

Only two Scottish clubs – Hearts and Dunfermline – have followed Rangers into administration since 2012 and both because of their own financial mismanagement, rather than as a consequence of the Ibrox implosion.

The clubs that Rangers will meet this season have all adjusted well, with many flourishing in the void. A quarter of this season’s Premiership clubs all won maiden senior trophies during Rangers’ absence.

It will be up to Aberdeen – and possibly also Hearts and St Johnstone – to ensure there is not an instant return to the days of Old Firm duopoly. Derek McInnes’ side, runners-up over the past two seasons, will be expected to again pose the main threat to Glasgow dominance. They have, so far, held on to all of their key assets and added to the squad, too, most significantly upgrading in both the goalkeeping and centre-forward positions.

Hearts, third last year, have also recruited well, with the mercurial Tony Watt given another chance to kick-start his career. It remains to be seen whether the humiliating European exit at the hands of Maltese opposition hangs over the squad and head coach Robbie Neilson or ultimately proves to be a blessing in disguise.

St Johnstone fans must breathe a sigh of relief with every summer that passes without Tommy Wright being snared by an English club. Paul Paton, Blair Alston and Keith Watson look like a trio of excellent acquisitions.

Few tipped Dundee United to go down last summer, a further sign that predicting the future is best left to meteorologists and gypsies with crystal balls. Hamilton Academical defied almost everyone by landing safely in 10th spot, ahead of a Kilmarnock side completely overhauled by manager Lee Clark this summer in the hope of avoiding another play-off finish.

Ross County have again cast the net far and wide to try to offset the loss of Jackson Irvine in particular, with Motherwell similarly making their English scouts earn their corn. Both will hope to make the top six again, as will Dundee, Inverness, and a Partick Thistle side bolstered by Ziggy Gordon and Danny Devine among others.

Let the football begin.

Four years without their biggest rivals there to challenge them should have allowed Celtic to move streets ahead, but the gap, as demonstrated in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final, is not as wide as it ought to be