Celtic and Rangers fans were united in their disappointment after BPL clubs rejected a proposal to allow them to join the English top flight.

A proposal by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside to include the Old Firm clubs in a two-tier set-up was rejected as neither "desirable or viable".

Peter Rafferty, secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs, told Press Association Sport: "I'm disappointed. I thought they might have had a more widespread hearing in relation to it.

"It seems to be a definite that there's no chance.

Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman Stephen Smith told Sky Sports News: "I think most Rangers fans will be disappointed by this but I can't say that any of us realistically are very surprised at it.

"I can't really see what financial motives there would be for English Premier League clubs to have Rangers and Celtic in the Premier League."

However, both Smith and Rafferty do not think today's news spells the death knell for Gartside's proposal, with both saying: "Never say never".

Rafferty added: "You would like to think in some point in time there would be a chance.

"I always had an inkling Sky television would have a say."

Smith said: "I suspect the time for it to happen will be when it's financially viable for it to happen, when Rangers and Celtic attract more money from media companies.

"I think at the moment English Premier League clubs are doing very nicely thank you.

"Teams at the bottom of the Premier League make significantly more money than the Old Firm do; in fact, some Championship clubs do."

As well as the prospect of Celtic and Rangers moving to England, there has also been talk of an Atlantic League involving clubs from Holland, Portugal and the Scandinavian countries.

Rafferty said: "That's not quite as attractive as England.

"The expense for fans travelling to these grounds would be extensive.

He added: "I don't fear for the future. I think we just have to carry on and win our own league in Scotland and get into Europe."

Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld was also disappointed with today's news, telling Press Association Sport: "I always had it in the back of my mind that it wouldn't happen today.

"But at least it's come to a situation where it's been thought of.

"Like everything else, keep trying and it'll happen one day."

Auld believes the move would be mutually beneficial to the Old Firm and the Premier League.

"It would have brought a better class of players to Rangers and Celtic and you would have got more exciting games," he said.

"The fanbase of Old Firm teams, I think would have been a bonus for English football."

Former Scotland boss Craig Brown can understand the Old Firm's desire to leave the Clydesdale Bank Premier League but would rather they stayed.

"I genuinely feel that it's an uneven playing field that they're in," he told Press Association Sport.

"But I'm Scottish and maybe an old guy who's a traditionalist and I think Rangers and Celtic are Scottish teams and should play in Scotland.

"There is a precedent of course: Swansea and Cardiff play in the English leagues.

"But it wouldn't break my heart to think that Celtic and Rangers are staying in Scotland.

"Although I'm quite convinced that, given a year or two in England, they'd be in the top six without doubt, maybe even the top four."