The Glasgow Derby should return to traditional ticket allocations but supporter safety must be paramount, according to Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish.

Rangers opted to reduce Celtic's allocation to around 700 after a derby defeat in 2018 with the Hoops responding in kind.

It was confirmed last week that there would be no away fans at all at the final two derbies of this Premiership season - and while Dalglish says his own preference would be a return to thousands-strong away supporters, fan safety is his main priority.

"My preference would be to have it back to the way it used to be, when Celtic had 7,000 or 8,000 at Ibrox and Rangers had the same number at Parkhead," Dalglish said in his Sunday Post column.

"It changed a few years ago when Rangers reduced it to 800 fans to make sure season-ticket holders were given priority.

"That was unfortunate, but I could understand where they were coming from. Celtic then followed suit.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou weighs in on Celtic and Rangers away allocation ban

"We are now at a stage where there will be no visiting supporters at the next two league games and that will dilute the atmosphere. It will be a fantastic fixture - but a little bit of something has been taken away.

"But if it's down to putting the safety of supporters first, then you need to respect that. All fans need to feel safe, and be safe, when going to the football."

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was asked about the decision after overseeing a 3-1 win against Hibernian on Saturday afternoon, to which he replied: "I’m not totally across all the details. I'm sure the club’s handling that.

“I’ve said in the past that I think it makes for a better spectacle (with away fans).

"This decision has been made with, I guess, all the information at hand."

The two teams will also meet in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at the end of April, which Postecoglou went on to reference.

He added: "The beauty of it is that we’ve got a game at Hampden where it'll be 50–50. Let’s look forward to that.”

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