By Thomas McGuigan

Can't live with them, can't live without them.

For what seems like an eternity, Celtic and Rangers have been linked with a move to the English Premier League and access to its formidable riches.

The Scottish Premier League's other 10 clubs, meanwhile, continue to wait for the latest round of brinkmanship to play out before getting down to the more pressing business of improving Scotland's top flight.

Nevertheless, supporters of the Old Firm clubs will be hoping there's no smoke without fire.

Peter Lawwell and Martin Bain, chief executives of Celtic and Rangers respectively, both stated publically this week that the winds of change are blowing.

The former said the clubs have outgrown Scotland and the latter believes they will leave the SPL within a decade.

On alternate weeks about 110,000 Old Firm fans shoehorn themselves into Celtic Park and Ibrox, but the hierarchy at both clubs are looking to break through the glass ceiling.

And supporters are becoming increasingly restless at the lack of European progress and inability to compete in the transfer market with their southern cousins.

"If you accept that competition is the lifeblood of sport, the Scottish model is seriously challenged," Lawwell told the BBC this week.

"If Celtic and Rangers did play in another environment, I think it would enhance the game because you would have more competition."

We continually look in awe at what's happened in England Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell

Next month the English Premier League will discuss the possibility of a two-tier set-up, which could involve the Glasgow sides.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is the driving force behind the idea to include the Old Firm in two divisions of 18 teams.

The SPL, which signed a five-year broadcasting deal with ESPN in July, would undoubtedly be more competitive without Celtic and Rangers but fears remain over whether it would retain the same demand.

"It's very unsettling for the SPL," Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson told BBC Scotland.

"We're trying to strengthen deals with commercial customers, TV deals, etc.

"If you're talking about the Old Firm leaving, where does it leave us with regards to contracts?

"I assume if they went somewhere else, that contract would be null and void. It would have serious consequences on the game."

The Old Firm have long held a desire to find a bigger platform to realise their potential.

But the question is whether other leagues or associations are willing to give them that chance.

Uefa's position was that teams would not be allowed to play in leagues outside their own country, but director of communications William Gaillard told BBC Scotland in April the matter should be decided between the leagues and associations involved.

Sky paid the English Premier League clubs more than £1bn to broadcast games until 2013 and ESPN took over Setanta's games after the Irish broadcaster lost the rights.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Should the Old Firm seek pastures new?

Some bookmakers are offering generous odds on Celtic and Rangers packing their bags and heading south in 2013, but it remains to be seen whether the broadcasters will lobby for the move.

The second hope for the Old Firm is that disenfranchised clubs in England's top flight push for their admission.

If Gartside's plan is to come to fruition, it needs the support of those clubs aiming to maximise their earning potential, having been unable to break into the impregnable top four.

Celtic and Rangers can call upon huge travelling supports. And any visiting allocation at the Reebok Stadium, Villa Park or the Britannia Stadium would be eagerly snapped up, without a spare seat to be had.

It would be good news for any English Premier League 2, even better news for the clicking of turnstiles and would also get the thumbs up from broadcasters keen to enliven their live football content.

"If we had the TV rights value that you get in England, then there is no barrier for Celtic," Lawwell added.

"We continually look in awe at what's happened in England. The English Premier League is an absolutely fantastic product."

His counterpart at Ibrox, Martin Bain, believes the Old Firm are hamstrung by the environment where they operate.

"We have to be invited to a party," added Bain.

The problem at the moment is the Old Firm have already organised their leaving do and both clubs are fidgeting with their tuxedos, waiting...

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