By Alan Hutton

25th May, 2023 | 2:21pm

Rangers and Celtic told to finalise agreement after confirmed talks - expert

Alan Hutton is hopeful Rangers and Celtic will reach an agreement over away supporters at derby matches next season.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender said that only allowing a handful of away supporters is “really poor” from both sides of the Old Firm.

As relayed by footballscotland (24 May), incoming Gers chief James Bisgrove revealed that he has held talks with Hoops counterpart Michael Nicholson but ruled out a return to big away allocations for next season.

The Light Blues’ senior man insisted that big away allocations at derby matches are unlikely to return any time soon but they will be holding talks with Celtic and Police Scotland over the amount of fans to be allowed in the future.

There were no away fans at Parkhead or Ibrox for the final Premiership derbies of the season after the clubs rescinded the 800 away tickets for their last derby matches.

When asked if there is a chance the sides could return to big away allocations, Hutton told Football Insider: “I hope so.

“I loved it as a player, going to Celtic Park or when you are playing at Ibrox against Celtic and the crowd was there. That made the atmosphere and it was something you wanted to be a part of.

“To have it in the situation we are in at the moment is just terrible. Something needs to be sorted.

“To have a handful of supporters to witness one of the biggest games is really poor. Hopefully they can work it out because it just adds to the occasion having the away support there.“

In other news, Rangers senior figure quits – but most fans won’t yet know.