Ron Gordon has saluted the progress made by Rangers in advancing the brand perception of the Premiership across Europe.

The Ibrox side have recorded stunning results on the continent over the last few years, culminating in a Europa League final appearance last term.

Their performances have been significant in ensuring more teams compete in European competition, and enter at a higher level.

And Hibs owner Gordon, who alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United and Hearts commissioned Deloitte to look at ways to improve our game, has put aside tribal rivalry and singled out Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side for praise in helping progress how other people see our top flight.

He told The Scotsman: “A very important part of this is the brand of the league. The league sometimes gets a little beaten up, but it's a great league. For me, probably one of, if not the most exciting small league in Europe; the most engaged fans, historic clubs, the Old Firm, who are powerful clubs that can compete at the highest level.

"The fact that Rangers made it to the Europa League final is amazing. When you think about it, probably no club has contributed to advancing Scottish football on a European level or really in general than Rangers in the last three years. That’s progress.”

And improved European performance across the whole of Scottish football is at the heart of the 3-5 year plan to improve the top flight, which Gordon insists have "wow factor".

He said: "Underlying this whole thing about growing the league is the fact that we'll create stronger clubs with a better product, better teams, that hopefully can go deeper in Europe.

"Celtic and Rangers are in a different ballpark but for Hibs, or Hearts, or Motherwell, or Aberdeen to be playing in Europe on a consistent basis in the group stage, and have our co-efficient top eight or top seven, which we could do, that is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"We'll all be generating more income, we'll be able to get better players, the product on the pitch will improve, we'll be able to go further in Europe, we'll be able to make more money so it kind of feeds itself.”

Deloitte's report will be presented to all 12 top-flight clubs in the coming weeks.