No quick Old Firm fix - Regan

30 March 2011 12:30

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan will hold a second summit on Wednesday with Celtic, Rangers, the Scottish government and police over problems that arise during Old Firm derbies.

Top of the agenda will be the sectarian chanting which marred the Co-operative Insurance Cup final 10 days ago, with further talks expected on ways to prevent a repeat of the ugly scenes at the Scottish Cup clash at Parkhead earlier this month.

Regan, who has already revealed derby matches could be played behind closed doors if serious problems with the fixture continue, said: "It can't rely on one body to address it. I think it needs a whole concerted effort on behalf of everybody."

He added: "It requires the need to start at school level and look at education. It's a big issue. It's one that's been around again for 100 years or more, and we're not going to solve it overnight."

Regan also admitted he faced a long battle to curtail the Old Firm's dominance of Scottish football.

"It's not a good thing for the game but Rome wasn't built in a day," he said.

"I've been in the post for six months. That's been in place for 100 years and I think it'll take a little bit longer than this financial year for me to change it."

An issue Regan was not prepared to embroil himself in was the current takeover saga at Rangers but he admitted the SFA would step in were the club forced into administration.

He said: "Yes, we should take an interest in these matters but we have delegated day-to-day responsibility to the leagues.

"We would only get involved if there was a major appeal or a major issue. We got involved when Dundee went into administration."

Source: PA