Old Firm fixtures creating a buzz, says Neil Doncaster

The return of the Old Firm matches has sparked an anticipatory buzz about Scottish football around the world, according to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

Rangers are back in the Scottish Premiership for the first time in four years and kick off the season with a home match against Hamilton.

And the Old Firm derby returns, Brendan Rodgers experiencing his first as Celtic manager at home on September 10, with his Rangers counterpart Mark Warburton's first at Ibrox falling on New Year's Eve.

Sky Sports will be showing all Old Firm matches live. 

"The return of Rangers to the top flight is massive, there's no question about that," said Doncaster. "The Old Firm derby is the one game which resonates around the world and we broadcast to over 100 countries as it is.

"Already we're seeing people talking not just in the UK but around the world about that game, in all sorts of markets, so it's massively important for the whole game in Scotland that that game has returned."

The arrival north of the border of big names such as Rodgers to Celtic and Joey Barton at Rangers has added another dimension to the forthcoming season.

Doncaster added: "There's huge anticipation. There's no question that the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, the arrival of Joey Barton - that's box office and it's been a while since people were talking around the world about the Scottish game.

"The arrival of people like that, into Scotland, is massive and is testament to the ambition of the clubs and should result in even more arrivals."

He stressed it will not be just the revival of the Old Firm rivalries, the arrival of Rodgers and Barton, and the first Christmas Eve fixtures for five years that will ensure passion, excitement and drama in Scottish football. The strength of the other teams will play a huge part as well.

"With the return of Rangers, with Hearts and Aberdeen looking to challenge again, frankly, there are so many fixtures across the card that you can look at," said Doncaster.

"I think it's wide open, and although the bookies have installed Celtic as pre-season favourites, anything is possible. The return of Rangers adds a lot of spice and I suspect there'll be many twists and turns over the weeks ahead."

He added he had an open mind on the much-discussed question of Celtic playing Dundee in a league game in the USA.

"It's certainly an exciting concept," he said, "and we know there's a huge interest in America in Scottish football and I can see why that might be attractive."