According to Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee, the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is in danger of sinking to the level of the League of Ireland. Currently, he feels the SPL is now on a par with the Coca-Cola Championship.

He told RedTV: "The English Premier League is now a world-class league; it's no longer a British-class league.

"I'm not sure that I would, in my day, have got a game in the Premier League as it is today.

"I think we really have to compare ourselves with Championship clubs.

"As long as we keep eroding the financial side and they keep getting away from us, that is going to change again, and very soon we're going to be comparing it to the First Division (League One).

"And if it keeps going the way it is, we could eventually be comparing it to - no disrespect - the Irish league."

But the Dons boss reckons there is still time for something to be done to keep it on a level with the Championship.

"I think that involves a bit of change," he said.

"Whether that involves summer football, I don't know. But I'd like someone to go and explore it scientifically.

"Then we can maybe make some decisions that would improve our lot and improve our chances of maintaining us at that sort of level, Championship level."

McGhee reckons the hopes of that occurring has been boosted by the Premier League's decision to reject the Old Firm's bid to move to England this week.

He said: "I think that Scottish football, the SPL and the other clubs need the Old Firm.

"It's a nonsense to think that we'd be better off without them."