CHRIS WADDLE, the former England international, believes the addition of Celtic and Rangers would enhance English football and hoped there would be a pathway for other ambitious Scottish clubs to one day follow in their footsteps. Proposals to revamp the English league system by creating a fifth division and adding a further eight clubs by 2019/20 has reopened the long-running debate about the possibility of the Old Firm one day decanting down south. The contentious plan has the backing of Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey but would also need the approval of 65 of the 72 clubs currently playing outside of the Barclays Premier League.

Waddle, the former Falkirk player and a boyhood Rangers fan, admitted he would have fears for the rest of Scottish football should the two Glasgow clubs end up departing the domestic set-up but hoped that the carrot of one day joining them would serve as consolation for those left behind.

He said: “It’s an argument that’s been going on since I was a kid. They’d be a welcome addition with their fanbase, and it would put more money in the two clubs’ coffers so they’d be able to attract better players. So they’d be able to compete, there’s no doubt about that.

“Football changes all the time so you never know what could happen in future. So if they say they’re going to change the structure and invite Rangers and Celtic to join because of the fanbase, you could understand that.

“Rangers and Celtic will always be a massive draw. But where would that leave Scottish football if those two leave? A lot of clubs would say it would be a lot more even but eventually one would emerge with more money – like Aberdeen or Hearts – who would then go on to dominate the scene. So you would be left with a similar scenario to just now with one or two bigger clubs.

“I can understand why Rangers and Celtic would love to move to a more competitive league where they would be tested in every game. I can see the appeal. Maybe if they are going to have it they need to have a pathway where other Scottish clubs could eventually find a way in too if they do well and it’s not just a closed shop for the big two. That might be fairer for all the Scottish clubs.”

The move comes at a time when Scottish football’s reputation down south is at an all-time low with the national team the only one from the British Isles not heading to the forthcoming European Championships in France.

Waddle has sympathy for manager Gordon Strachan and believes the proliferation of foreigners now operating in the Barclays Premier League makes it harder for both Scottish and English internationals to make their mark.

“It’s hard for Scottish football just now,” he added. “There aren’t as many Scottish players at the top level in England and that doesn’t help the national team but it’s similar for England just now, too. We’ve got about 35 players to pick from. A few years ago you’d have had about 150 or 200 who could be capped. There are so many foreign players in the Premier League and that makes it harder for the British players to make an impact. And it will only continue to go that way with the amount of money in the game.

“The knock-on effect is that players from abroad might think they don’t want to go to Scottish football as it’s not competitive enough and there’s more money in England. So I can see why that’s a problem for Scottish football. But if England didn’t have the money we wouldn’t attract half these players. In a way, though, that could be a good thing as you have to go out and coach and develop players.”

Despite the disappointment of not qualifying for the Euros, Waddle thinks Scotland could still cause an upset in a World Cup qualifying group that also includes England.

“Gordon has done a good job and can only work with the tools that he’s got,” added the former Newcastle and Marseille winger, these days a brand ambassador for bettingexpert. “He turned them around initially and got some good results and then maybe slipped up a bit towards the end of the Euro qualifying campaign in a hard group. Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales are there but you never know, Scotland could get through their World Cup group. Gordon will have confidence in his squad and a lot of them will be around for the next few years.

“The games against England will of course be huge and even if Scotland can draw both of them they will get praise for that and England will get the stick! But Gordon has got them going in the right direction. People don’t appreciate how hard it is to qualify, especially if you’ve not got the biggest pool to pick from.”

- Chris Waddle was speaking on behalf of bettingexpert LIVE, the world's first in-play tipping app available now in the Apple Store. Read Chris' tips for Euro 2016 at bettingexpert.com.