Even before the Dons' European ambitions bit the dust in Dublin, sections of the British media were letting it be known just how grim they reckoned the National League is with one Scots Sunday columnist remarking that if Celtic (6-2!!!) and Rangers depart to the proposed Atlantic League the Scottish Premier League could end up "like another League of Ireland".

Afterwards, website Football 365 joined the sneering, observing that Pontlottyn Blast Furnace (mentioned in connection with their search for the club with the daftest name) "will doubtless be beating Aberdeen in a European tie within a year or so".