Alan Brazil: Plan to merge Dutch and Belgian leagues won’t hasten a move down south for Celtic and Rangers

Plans have been mooted to merge the Belgian and Dutch top leagues.

But even if they are approved by UEFA, I can’t see it leading directly to the Old Firm finally pitching up in England.

For me, there’s a difference between the ideas.

For the Belgian and Dutch leagues, the idea is that both will benefit from coming together.

The two countries want to drive standards up to reduce the gap between themselves and Europe’s top five leagues in England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

Merging the leagues would expand their audience too, leading to more TV money.

It makes sense for both countries.

But in the case of Celtic and Rangers, there are plenty of clubs in England who will feel their arrival could hurt them.

Believe me, teams from the middle of the Premier League, and all the way down through the Championship would have little interest in welcoming the Old Firm.

They would see them as direct competitors.

Moving to England would benefit the Glasgow giants massively. There certainly would be no argument there.

But would it benefit all of English football the same way?

The chairmen of the majority of clubs wouldn’t think so.