Tony Higgins was part of Ernie Walker's Scottish football think tank

Former First Minister Henry McLeish has been warned that he faces a tough task in his review of Scottish football.

Tony Higgins, head of education at the world players' union Fifpro, joined a 'think tank' with a similar brief in the 1990s but says it met opposition.

"Resistance to change was a massive issue then - the implementation of ideas never took place," he said.

"If people think there'll be one body running Scottish football at the end of this, that will not happen."

McLeish will head up a review panel that is expected to discuss the issue of three governing bodies in the Scottish game, league restructuring and a possible winter shutdown.

Scottish football is currently run under the auspices of the SFA, the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League and Higgins told BBC Scotland previous attempts to rationalise the system were met with apathy.

Higgins, who was part of a previous review set up by former SFA secretary Ernie Walker, said any change will be gradual.

"What you want is the three bodies streamlined," he said.

"Looking at the composition of the committee, it seems to have some of the major decision-makers on board, but it won't be effective unless implementation does take place.

"The way forward for Scottish football will require some government either financially or structurally and McLeish may be able to help in those areas."

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