The past few months have highlighted the systemic problems at the heart of Scottish football, with one of it's two biggest clubs going into administration and facing potential liquidation in addition to the ten point deduction, a transfer embargo for players over eighteen, the inability to pay their European license for next season, and the loss of the league title to city rivals, Celtic.

One of the only takeover bids to be considered by administrators Duff and Phelps is that of American Bill Miller, who plans to buy Rangers for £11.2 million and then liquidate the club and strip it of it's assets. Another option could be to relegate Rangers to Scottish Division Three, and have them work their way back up the divisions. Neither situation is  exactly ideal for Rangers fans or Scottish football as a whole.

If any of you reading this believe that it would be great for Scottish football as a whole to see one of the dominant Old Firm teams go bust or end up playing league games at the likes of Annan Athletic (no offence), then let me tell you why you are wrong.

Arguably, the Old Firm have ruined Scottish football to a certain extent, through their  complete domination of the league and cup competitions, but this forgets something which is absolutely key to the survival of Scottish football in general; and that is that without Rangers or Celtic, the SPL would collapse. If Rangers were to go bust or were relegated, then there would cease to be any Old Firm games. I'm sure Strathclyde Police would be delighted at this, but it would deprive the world of one of the greatest derby games in football.

If there were no Old Firm games, there would be a dramatically reduced television deal with the SPL, as the Old Firm teams and derbies are the main attraction for television companies and fans too.

Another key aspect to remember is that, without Rangers, then the SPL would go from a two-team league to a one-team league, at least for the first couple of years until a 'second' team could rise to the challenge. This would probably also result in a further reduction of European places for Scottish teams, and a greater drop in the standard of Scottish teams participating in European competitions.

Quite frankly, the demise of Rangers could be the death of Scottish football as we know it. Although some may be relishing the current position in which Rangers find themselves, they should take heed that if it can happen to Rangers, it can happen to anyone. Those who would love to witness the slow and tortured death of a great club like Rangers clearly have not got the greater interests of Scottish football at heart and instead perpetuate petty rivalries which cripple our game.

Even the most ardent of rival fans should understand just how important the survival of Rangers is to the game we love and that, should Rangers sink it could set a precedent upon which any club could follow to its devastating conclusion.