Walter Smith has warned Scottish football will die if the Old Firm aren't allowed to quit the SPL, reports the Scottish Sun. Rangers and Celtic are campaigning to join the English Premiership or a new Euro league.
That has sparked outrage but Smith insisted: "I fear for Scottish football if we don't change. I think if we don't do something then Scottish football is in danger of dying."
He added: "We are already seeing a downturn financially with our top players moving out of the SPL.
"Both Rangers and Celtic need owners to subsidise the team and, in any business, that's not healthy.
"There is this idea that Rangers and Celtic are only looking after themselves.
"But if we don't keep a high-profile for our game, across Europe and so on, then we will be even worse off. We will be dragged down.
"Less than 20 years ago we could compete with English teams. Now that is impossible and it will only continue.
"SPL clubs are losing players to the Coca-Cola Championship and League One. That is a measure of a steady decline in standards and finances.
"Rangers and Celtic draw the attention but I stress that this affects the whole of Scottish football and the profile of our game with the public, with TV, with sponsors and so on.
"An Arab sheik will invest in Manchester City or in Spain or in Germany. He'd think, what's the benefit of investing in Scotland?"
Smith is in his second spell as Gers manager and he admitted: "The differences that I am seeing from my last time here are stark.
"There is still an interest in Scottish football but it is a Rangers-Celtic interest. Who will win? What will they do?
"That's not the fault of the other teams but if you get a chance to raise your income, you raise the standards of your club overall."