Celtic manager Gordon Strachan fears the current image being portrayed by the SPL is a deterrent to prospective signings.

Strachan spoke out following the problems which are affecting Scottish football, including bottom club Gretna having entered administration.

The SPL are also trying to resolve a fixture backlog ahead of the 5th April split, while numerous games at Motherwell's Fir Park ground have been called off this season.

And Strachan concedes that the ongoing issues will make it more difficult for Scottish clubs to attract top-quality players.

"What it doesn't do is help us sell our product around the world, to sponsors or whatever," Strachan told reporters.

"It's not the best. If we are going to sell this product, this brand, then we must show the best of Scottish football - players, stadiums, surfaces, everything.

"When you go abroad and speak to people you want to be proud of the league you work in.

"There are no easy answers. If I am watching a game in Europe I want to see the best of the stadiums, the best surfaces and the best players. You watch a game in Germany, Spain or England and it fills the screen."

Strachan also revealed that he instructed Celtic's development manager John Park not to take a potential signing to an SPL fixture.

He added: "We had a player over here who we tried to sign. John Park was going to take him to a game. I asked him which game, and he told me. I said 'don't even think about it'.

"I don't think it would have helped and we didn't sign the player anyway."

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