Motherwell chairman John Boyle has issued a stark warning over the future of Scottish football if Celtic and Rangers move to England. It has been suggested Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside is keen to invite the Old Firm duo down to England in a restructuring of the Premier League.

Boyle told the Daily Record: "I'd find it inconceivable that the rest of us would watch the Old Firm go down to England and simply say, 'cheerio then, best of luck'.

"If the lines are to be re-drawn and two Scottish clubs go down south, I'd be interested in taking Motherwell into the English Third Division.

"We've got big city clubs like Hearts and Hibs who could prosper in a British set-up as well.

"We could find ourselves playing in a league where the financial structure doesn't make a pair of clubs significantly richer than the rest.

"If we're going to have a once-in-a-generation change to the game, let's examine all the possibilities.

"But the consequences of losing Celtic and Rangers without any further break-up of the SPL would be disastrous from top to bottom for the game as a whole.

"It would bring about the demise of Scottish football as it stands.

"I can see the Old Firm would bring credibility to a second tier of the Premier League down south but there's no doubt we need them here for financial reasons.

"My hope is the clubs in England who'll debate this issue on Thursday regard the whole matter as a flight of fantasy and throw the idea out of court.

"The Premier League in England is the most successful competition in the world and I don't think the turkeys will vote for Christmas so the Old Firm can one day get a share of the goodies."