So it seemed like the least we could do was canvass his opinions on the subject. For the record, Scott Brown, resplendent in the new 'retro' Celtic home kit which he was ostensibly there to promote, doesn't get a vote when it comes to deciding whether a 'newco' Rangers under Charles Green will be allowed to participate in the SPL next season.
But he does feel the 12 Scottish Premier League chairmen face a "nightmare" decision as they weigh up the rights and wrongs of allowing them back in. Eight clubs must back a proposal to transfer the league share from the 'oldco' Rangers to a new shell company, with the possibility of imposing additional sanctions or extracting concessions on voting rights into the bargain.
"It is whether or not the clubs want Rangers in the league," Brown said. "It's not up to players it's down to chairmen at each club. It's quite a f****** nightmare – to put it nicely. It's all about money at the end of the day. It comes down to whether or not people bite their tongue and take it for two or three years with no Rangers or keep the money going into the stadiums."
Yesterday's decision from HMRC to reject the proposed Creditors Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) at Rangers might have been widely expected, but it was still the kind of epoch-defining day in which the old certainties of Scottish football were swept aside. With Rangers almost certainly banned from Europe for three years, and requiring both the assent of the SPL and the SFA if they are to play any top flight football next season, Brown was asked yesterday to envisage a future without any Old Firm matches. Considering the player has built so much of his reputation on his performances in the Glasgow derby, not to mention his unique goal celebration, he is understandably chastened about the fact.
"It would be gutting if there were no more Rangers-Celtic games," he said. "You come to a club like this to play against your rivals and you want to beat them week in, week out and go on to win the championship. When they come to Celtic Park it is like a Champions League game and it is the one you want to win, no matter what else happens in the season. More people watch this than half the English games down the road."
Not least of these Old Firm moments was the one which spawned his trademark, splayed arms celebration, popularly known as 'the Broony'. "That would never have come up if it wasn't for an Old Firm game," he said. "That was after I shanked that one into Greegsy's net and it was one of those spur of the moment things. Whatever happens on that day is different. Although, to be fair, I might do it against Ross County as well – let's face it, three points is three points."
The determination from HMRC was also the starter's pistol for Rangers first-team players to begin looking for other clubs, at least so far as the PFA Scotland advice that they are all legally able to leave the club for free is concerned. Brown, an acquaintance of many of these players from the Scotland set-up, not least his former Hibernian team-mate Steven Whittaker, hasn't been in touch yet. He batted away the suggestion that Celtic could persuade a couple to cross the city.
"I think we should sign them all," he joked. "No, seriously, though, I don't have a clue what's happening – it's up to the gaffer who we sign. But it is a weird one and hard for their players, that's for sure. I will be speaking to him [Whittaker] soon but I'll leave it a wee while because I'm sure a lot of people will be on the phone to him."
As diverting as the predicament at Rangers is, Celtic would be wise not to waste too much time looking behind them. Unsurprisingly, considering they were hijacked by Kilmarnock and Hearts in the cup competitions, Brown doesn't buy into the fact that the Parkhead club are suddenly guaranteed next season's league trophy. Moreover, with all-important Champions League qualifiers to come in late July/early August, he knows that a return to that competition would be the one thing which could compensate for the temporary suspension of the Old Firm fixture.
"There's no such thing as a guaranteed title," Brown said. "We went into the League Cup final against Kilmarnock and everyone was saying it was too easy. So there's no such thing as a guarantee. Clubs might give us a bigger challenge if Rangers are not there and there's second spot to go for or first if they do well.
"This is a good time for us to strengthen. We need to go to two, three, four titles in a row and see how far we can push Europe. I think if you have Champions League football then that blows everything else out of the water. The amount of money you generate from getting into the group stages – and the experience of the home and away ties – would take us to the next level."
Some of the fans may be gorging themselves on jelly and ice cream but the Parkhead club's players are more preoccupied with returning to Europe's top table.
