Scotland boss Craig Levein admits that proposals for league reconstruction are unlikely to have any impact on the Old Firm's dominance of the Scottish game.
Former First Minister Henry McLeish on Thursday published the second part of his review of Scottish football, which called for radical changes, including a two-tier Scottish Premier League with 10 teams in each division, an early start to the season, a winter break and the regionalisation of lower leagues.
"This will be the perennial question, won't it? Hearts split the Old Firm a few years ago but it is extremely difficult," said Levein.
"A lot depends on what the Old Firm teams do.
"They are not exactly overflowing with spare cash just now and that might bring them back to the pack, rather than the other way around.
"Hearts have put together a pretty steady run recently which almost coincides with my belief that Marius Zaliukas coming back into the team was a big thing.
"Of course there is the return of Rudi Skacel and the form of David Templeton as well but probably more than any of a number of factors which have seen Hearts improving, is the return of manager Jim Jefferies and his assistant Billy Brown to Tynecastle.
"So they would be the ones closest at this minute in time but, as I say, a lot depends on what the Old Firm do."
Source: PA
