Celtic and Rangers have started initial discussions aimed at ending the impasse over Old Firm away allocations.

Rangers explained they cut Celtic’s allocation in 2018 due to a greater demand for season tickets.

Since then both clubs – who next meet at Ibrox on 6 April – have at times allocated about 750 away tickets.

Celtic have turned down the offer of away tickets during that period, citing concerns over safety and security. Rangers were not offered any tickets for the most recent Old Firm derby at Celtic Park in December.

If an agreement is reached, it is unlikely the allocations would return to pre-2018 levels, when up to 8,000 away fans attended the fixture.

SPFL rules say clubs must make provisions for “reasonable numbers” of visiting fans.

Celtic said they wanted to “address reasonable allocations” for derbies after Rangers expressed “extreme disappointment” at having no supporters at Celtic Park for the most recent Old Firm game on 30 December.

Celtic refused an allocation of about 700 tickets for the 3 September fixture at Ibrox for safety reasons.

A small number of visiting supporters attended the first two league derbies last season but no away fans were inside Ibrox or Celtic Park for the final two games because of safety concerns for the 800 at the previous matches.