(Credit: Imago / Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)

Alex Oakhill

Fri 8 August 2025 8:00, UK

Rangers and Celtic could both be faced with a bigger challenge in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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The pair have dominated the domestic league for decades, winning every single title since Aberdeen lifted the trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson back in 1985.

Celtic only just scraped past St Mirren on the opening day of the campaign, Luke McCowan’s late strike giving them a 1-0 win.

It was a far from ideal start to the season for Rangers though, who only managed a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen, as Emmanuel Longelo cancelled out James Tavernier’s opener.

Russell Martin criticised his players in his post-match interview, where he questioned their mentality.

Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the two Glasgow giants may not have it all their own way from now on.

Tavernier scored against Motherwell (Credit: xJamiexJohnstonx)

This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen CEO.

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Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that some of the other clubs in the Scottish Premiership could offer better competition to Celtic and Rangers this season.

By the end of 2024-25, the closest challengers to the big two in Scotland were Hibernian, who were a massive 17 points adrift of the Gers.

Wyness added that it’s difficult for Rangers in the early stages of the campaign, as they have European football to contend with and league games bring them back to reality.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Back to reality in Scotland for Rangers after the heavy European nights in Greece, where they all come back excited.

Maybe there was a drop in energy after the European rigors.

“We’re so used to Rangers and Celtic running everything, perhaps the other clubs this season will offer a better challenge, and that’s what we’re seeing.

“Russell Martin, of course, has got these other European games now to distract him again from the domestic season.

It’s always a problem in Scotland in the early parts of the season.

And it isn’t always possible, as we know.”

Martin has had a successful start in Europe (Credit: Imago)

Meanwhile, Rangers are ready for Everton and four other European sides to drive up Hamza Igamane’s price tag this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

Igamane’s 16 goals and three assists in his debut season at Ibrox have put the 22-year-old in the shop window this summer, and Rangers’ owners 49ers Enterprises could be willing to sell their star striker.

Football Insider revealed on 2 August that Rangers will drive a hard bargain and could demand close to £20million for Igamane, and their hand will be strengthened further via Champions League qualification.

As well as Lille launching an inquest earlier this summer, Football Insider sources have said that Everton, Feyenoord, Rennes, and Udinese are all keen on Igamane.

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