It’s an age-old debate: is Scottish football really that far behind its English counterparts?
Rangers and Celtic dominate headlines, but when you move beyond Glasgow, comparisons with English lower leagues become murkier—especially when players like Sean Roughan are linked with moves north of the border.
Roughan’s Potential Move Raises Questions
Lincoln City’s young defender Sean Roughan has reportedly attracted interest from Heart of Midlothian, prompting a familiar question: is the Scottish Premiership (SPFL) really a step up from League One? For fans of the Imps, the idea of Roughan leaving for Tynecastle might feel like a sideways move. But should it?
Let’s start with the most obvious truth—Celtic and Rangers are massive clubs. Their wage bills (around £60m and £42m respectively) dwarf most in the SPFL and even exceed some lower-end Premier League outfits like Brentford. They play in Europe almost every season and command fanbases, facilities and historical stature that far outshine anything in League One.
But when you strip away the Old Firm, the picture becomes more nuanced. Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian round out the more competitive sides, yet even Aberdeen’s wage bill drops to around £15m. For the rest, budgets often hover around £5-6m—comparable to the top end of League One. With clubs like Derby County and Bolton Wanderers operating with large fanbases and better financial muscle, some SPFL sides would struggle to match those standards week in, week out.
How The Leagues Stack Up On The Pitch
The argument isn’t just financial. Derek Adams once described the SPFL’s standard as “shocking” and “rubbish”—comments that drew criticism, particularly because they followed a defeat. Yet there was a hint of frustration many could relate to. Livingston boss David Martindale was more diplomatic, noting that the league had become “more risk-averse,” with defensive formations dominating and goals drying up. The result is often tight, attritional football rather than free-flowing matches.
Points tallies for top-half finishes have plummeted—Hibernian finished third this season with just 56 points, the lowest figure for over a decade. These numbers suggest a league that is perhaps more even in its mid-section, but arguably lacking quality depth across the board.
On the other hand, the English League One continues to evolve. With a mix of historic clubs, ambitious owners and Championship-quality players dropping down, the level has increased steadily. While there’s less glamour than the SPFL’s televised derbies or European outings, the weekly standard may well be stronger in England’s third tier than in Scotland’s mid-to-lower half.
Still, there are intangible qualities to the SPFL that can’t be ignored. Atmosphere, identity and rivalry are baked into the fabric of Scottish football. Clubs like Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs still attract strong crowds and offer young players like Roughan the chance to play in high-pressure environments with genuine stakes—often including domestic cup runs and, in some cases, European qualifiers.
Writer’s View
So where does that leave Sean Roughan? A move to Hearts would not catapult him into elite football—but neither would it be a backward step. The Jambos are arguably top-end League One or lower-Championship in standard, and with European football a possibility, such a move might offer experiences Lincoln simply cannot match. That said, Danny Mandroiu made a move to Shamrock Rovers for European football, missing out on games at Bolton, Birmingham and Charlton to play in front of around 2,000 at Dundalk.
For young players, development isn’t just about the league you’re in—it’s about opportunity, coaching, and exposure. A player might stagnate in a stronger league without game time but thrive in a slightly weaker one where they play every week. Roughan would likely become a key figure in the Hearts defence and potentially use that stage to launch a future move elsewhere.
Ultimately, the SPFL’s depth is weaker than England’s, but the gap between League One and non-Old Firm Scotland isn’t as wide as some might think. And if Hearts offer Roughan a starting place, top-six football and a crack at Europe, who’s to say that’s not progress?
