THE future of Scottish football has, understandably, not been high on the agenda during the independence debate.

But hopefully a “yes” vote will put to bed, once and for all, the calls for Rangers and Celtic to join the English league.

A couple of years ago, when the threat of demotion from the top tier was hanging over Rangers, a story broke that the club’s then owner Charles Green was interested in buying Bury and moving them to play at Ibrox.

It was a ridiculous tale that hit the headlines out of the blue and disappeared just as quickly, when the Shakers’ then chairman Brian Fenton publically dismissed the rumours with the disdain they deserved.

Yet for a few hours, as a reporter covering Bury, I had to seriously consider the prospect of the Scottish footballing giants breaking into the Football League through the back door.

And I quickly formed the opinion it would be bad for everyone concerned.

Putting to one side the blatant disregard for Bury’s 130-year history, I could not fathom how a club like Rangers, with a rich history of its own, could turn its back on its own traditions in pursuit of the Premier League’s golden ticket.

Money might be what makes the football world go around, but it isn’t everything.

The game also has a heart and soul, with fans and historic rivalries between fans its life-blood.

Any Rangers or Celtic supporters who are eager to leave the relative safety of the Scottish league behind may believe it would be easy to replace the rivalries with clubs like Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen with new English ones.

But the bonds between clubs – even if it is a shared hatred – are hard to replicate and tend to become weaker, the further they are apart.

That is why derby matches are always the most eagerly anticipated and the best attended in the calendar.

You can’t underestimate the importance of bragging rights.

There is no sweeter feeling than being able to gloat in the face of a work colleague who happens to support your closest rivals.

Rangers fans are having a taste of life without that pleasure at the moment, after being demoted down the leagues.

Move down south for good and that chance will be taken away forever, barring the odd Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea fan living north of the border brave enough to make their allegiances known.

Yet I doubt it will ever come to that if the Scottish public vote for independence next week.

I can only assume any potential ties with the Premier League would go the same way as our nearest neighbours’ hold over the Pound and the Union flag.