Celtic’s Fixture Overload: Is a new league set-up the solution?

Is it possible to go to 16 team topflight and retain 4 Glasgow Derbies?

Last week, I wrote about the increasing number of fixtures Celtic Football Club faces and the strain this puts on both players and fans. Next season, the challenge will grow further, with two additional European qualifiers adding to an already packed schedule. In the coming years, it could increase by as many as six extra matches.

UEFA’s ongoing negotiations for the 2027-2030 television rights deal are another sign of what’s to come. Their aim is to increase the contract’s value by 50%, and the only way to achieve that is through more games. It wouldn’t be surprising if the current eight-match Champions League format expands to ten games per season.

Something has to give. The solution is clear: we must reduce the number of domestic games. But this is easier said than done.

Would Scottish Football Accept Change?

Celtic would receive little sympathy from the rest of Scottish football. Other clubs might argue that as a big club, we should simply rotate our squad and use fringe players in domestic cup competitions, particularly the League Cup.

But would the fans accept that? Would the sponsors? If Celtic and potentially Rangers were to openly declare that they are fielding B-teams in certain domestic competitions, it would have significant consequences. The League Cup, for example, would lose much of its prestige, leading to reduced sponsorship deals and possibly a decline in the overall TV contract value for Scottish football.

Scottish football is already financially dependent on the Old Firm, and any move that reduces the competitiveness of domestic competitions could impact smaller clubs as well. A weaker League Cup might mean less prize money, lower attendances, and fewer lucrative TV deals.

So, what’s the alternative? My preference would be to change the league structure itself.

Reforming the Scottish Premiership: A New Approach

The current Scottish Premiership format consists of 12 teams playing 38 matches a season. But with more European commitments, a reduction in domestic fixtures is necessary. The question is how to achieve that without damaging the league’s commercial appeal.

One possible model is the Belgian system, which has recently reverted to an 18-team league where each team plays twice (home and away). This reduces fixture congestion while maintaining a competitive balance.

However, the Scottish football authorities and broadcasters would never accept a format with only two Glasgow derbies. These fixtures generate huge revenues and are the biggest attraction in the Scottish football calendar. A solution must balance reducing the number of games while keeping these key matchups.

A Proposed League Format for Scotland

A possible structure could be:

• Expand the Scottish Premiership to 16 teams.

• Each team plays each other once (15 games).

• At Christmas, the league splits into two groups of 8 based on points.

• Each team then plays the teams in their group three more times (21 games).

This would maintain a 36-game season, only two fewer than the current format. While it doesn’t dramatically reduce the number of fixtures, those two games could make a crucial difference in allowing for better squad management and recovery time.