Old Firm rejected by PL

Celtic and Rangers to stay in SPL

Last updated: 12th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Old Firm rejected by PL

Rangers & Celtic to remain in SPL

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The Premier League clubs have thrown out a proposal to bring Celtic and Rangers into the English game.

Discussion has raged for some time about whether the Old Firm could be included in a new-look English structure.

A two-tier Premier League including the Glasgow giants was on the agenda at a meeting of chairmen on Thursday.

Several managers, such as Alex McLeish, Martin O'Neill, David Moyes and Harry Redknapp, had previously voiced their support for the idea.

However, the Premier League have now confirmed that Celtic and Rangers will not be invited to leave the SPL.

The proposal, put forward by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, was rejected as neither 'desirable or viable'.

The Premier League said in a statement: "Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideas concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tiers with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers.

"The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.

"The other relevant ideas contained within Bolton's paper will now be taken forward as part of the wider strategic review being undertaken by the Premier League since November 2008 with the aim of providing recommendations before December 2010."

Bad move

Speaking before the announcement, Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher explained that he would be opposing the plan due to fears over the repercussions.

"My first view is that it would ruin football in Scotland," said Fletcher.

"What the Hearts and Hibernians and Aberdeens of this world would think about it ... whether they would slip into non-league football, I don't know."

Burnley's former Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher agreed that removing Celtic and Rangers from Scottish football would be a bad move.

"Everyone looks forward to playing the Old Firm sides so I think it would take a big part of that away," said the 22-year-old.

"I've played a lot of my football up there and I don't want to see that.

"I don't think they'd do badly if they came down but they're two Scottish teams and I think they should stay up there for the SPL's sake as well."

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Comments (152)

Ian Wilson says...

Do you not think one of the main reasons the Premier League don't want any part of these 2 teams, is because they've got a bunch of fans still living in the 80's where fan clashes are still frequent? In my eyes the teams just bring far too much politics to an already corrupt league. Who wants the image of religious tension for two poster clubs? Scottish league should find a way to breed the same success as the Premier League. Don't expect the money on the platter and a welcome mat, after all the Scots are supposed to hate the English.

Posted 03:33 14th November 2009

Balzs Kurilla (Arsenal fan) says...

" They both have huge fan bases. Not just in Scotland or the rest of the UK. Outwith Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool and possibly Chelsea I don't think there is anyone bigger than Rangers or Celtic in the UK. " and you know why do they seem so big? because they dominating in their domestic league but let's see the question from another angle if the spurs, everton, mancity and villa wanna make the CL so they join the SPL, what do you think, the old firm would still look so huge? no man, that would mean that they never gonna win their leauge again, they gonna be a middle-of-the-table team. this "the bigger clubs in UK after the big4" is kinda relative.

Posted 01:33 14th November 2009

Ross Ferguson (Rangers fan) says...

It is very funny to see all these EPL supporters spouting off about the Old Firm. A few facts for you EPL supporters. We have the biggest support outside of Man United. Have a history that the likes of sunderland, Man City, Chelsea, hull, Bolton can only dream about. We would add Thousands to your gates and within 10 years be on par with the Top 4. We deserve to be in the EPL for a simple fact. We would bring more money to your clubs. It is clear from where i am sitting that some very big players have said NO because they see what would happen......A Glasgow domination before 2020. Keep running scared until Sky insist that we are brought into the league to bring more interest, from where i am standing the EPL is already losing it's appeal. It won't be long now until EPL are TOLD to welcome us with open arms.

Posted 22:20 13th November 2009

Gary Platt (Celtic fan) says...

If then old firm were allowed to play in england, they would do fine..They would generate more cash and would be able to buy quality players. So why wouldnt they do well..Its how you spend the money.. Barring the top 4 or 5 in England, thr rest are average..They are just scared either of the old firm would jeapordise their spot in the top flight

Posted 22:07 13th November 2009

Nick Nick (Liverpool fan) says...

Couldn't agree more with Charlie Rothwell. I was living in Manchester when Rangers fans took up residence for a long weekend before trashing everything/everyone/each other. They would not be welcome back. Incredible how friendly Celtic fans are in comparison every time they played in Manc.

Posted 19:50 13th November 2009

Christopher Cowell says...

The Scots wouldn't want English teams in their leagues, the English clubs wouldn't want anything to do with the Scottish leagues, having Celtic and Rangers- two religiously segregated fan bases in the Premier League is just another FA idea that they want to push through for the financial side of the game. We've got too many Scots in Westminster that have dragged the country to the brink of bankruptcy and bash the English any way possible, it will just give them one more reason to hate the English if they get league wins against our teams. It will cause more political problems down the road, more politicians running our game and national racism that we could do without. It's all for money for Celtic and Rangers to progress and be RELEVANT in European football competitions because they're probably sick and tired of seeing the English sides get the recognition and the success that they've earned by simply being the bigger and BETTER teams in the BRITISH Isles.

Posted 19:16 13th November 2009

Jonny H (Everton fan) says...

Rangers and Celtic fans are failing to spot a key point. They talk about a worldwide fan base but many people have them as their 2nd club. Whilst in America I met supporters of both clubs who also supported Man U or Liverpool. When I asked which they prefered they all said the English club. I am from Belfast (now living in England) where everyone supports either Rangers or Celtic but at the same time everyone supports an English side. I am fairly confident that most would pick their EPL club over their SPL club. Having questioned 21 people about this 19 said they would have the EPL club as their priority. If the Old Firm move to England I think they may lose some of their supporters outside of Scotland. I gave up following Scottish football years ago.

Posted 16:09 13th November 2009

Andrew Concannon says...

A short history lesson here. When the FA Cup was first brought into being it was never called the 'english' cup, indeed up until 1887 teams from Wales, Scotland and Ireland regularly competed. However in 1887 the Scottish Football Association banned member clubs from competeing in it. Likewise when William McGregor of Aston Villa set up the Football League he again resisted the temptation to call it the 'english' league in the expectation that teams from the other home nations competed in it. Teams from Scotland chose to set up their own league while the main teams in Wales ie Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham et al chose to join Mr McGregors league, therfore becoming some of the founder members. It also served a need for Cardiff and the Swans as it meant their newly acquired professional staus was accommodated as it was the nearest professional league available. So whether you like it or not Welsh clubs were actually central to the foundation of the Football League when it was first brought into being.

Posted 16:00 13th November 2009

John Barron says...

I think it is important to remember here that neither Rangers nor Celtic have actually applied to join EPL. This whole episode is nothing more than a decoy suggested by an English Chairman who wants a fairer share of the TV money for his club. By introducing Rangers & Celtic into the mix he has cleverly deflected heat away from his main intention, which is to try and break the monopoly of the big four. By introducing the prospect of Rangers & Celtic joining a re-structured EPL, he is threatening the status quo that exists in the EPL at the moment. The argument of whether Rangers & Celtic would add anything to the EPL is irrelevant. What is relevant is what would the rest of the EPL do with a bigger share of the TV money? Would the EPL be any more competitive if the yo-yo clubs had an extra £10 million per season? Would things change that much if clubs like Hull, Wigan, Birmingham and Porstmouth had an extra £10 million to spend?

Posted 15:53 13th November 2009

Steve Spear says...

To be perfectly honest the idea of having two of scotland's biggest clubs in the premier league is just not right. They are in the scottish premier league which is for scottish clubs. It would not be right if they were to be accepted into the best league in the world. Before we know it someone will suggest that Real Madrid and Barcelona join the premier league! It's like the '39th game' suggestion. Nation's have there own respective leagues for a reason. Let's leave it at that.

Posted 15:10 13th November 2009

Mike Davies says...

Celtic and Rangers are both big clubs but my argument is what gives them the right to not only join our league but go in at the top , i dont mind them joining but make them start at lower league and work there way up , why should a scottish club(s) start higher than an english side in an english league no matter if its chester or west brom or yeovil. swansea and wrexham and cardiff started at the bottom so should you

Posted 15:04 13th November 2009

Russ Collier (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm sorry but hearing the Celtic and Rangers fans saying they wouldn't struggle is a joke. You draw with teams like Falkirk and Hibs week in week out. Any team can win in a cup competition, it's pure luck on the day, Cardiff City done it a few years back so did Millwall but they wouldn't do any good in the EPL. They would be playing teams like Villa, Man City, every week let alone the top four. Look at their players Samaras couldn't get in to a poor Man City side, Ferguson struggled at a poor Blackburn side but yet he was Rangers Captain (Joke) The Scottish league is full of EPL rejects that wouldn't make a Championship side in all honesty. And as far as the fan base goes, don't make me laugh, Oxford United have a bigger fan base world wide that Celtic and Rangers.

Posted 14:35 13th November 2009

Varun M says...

You get thrashed by Unirea Urzaceni 4 - 1 at home and expect to play in the EPL. Thats a good one.

Posted 14:27 13th November 2009

Jake Lorimer says...

I don't understand why they weren't invited in the PL they would be an added bonus to all sides (well an added 6 points). I do believe that theres no competition in Scotland for them but for both Rangers and Celtic wouldn't benefit from joining the PL as they would struggle to even get into the Europa league and i do not think they would even challenge for a top 4 place. Im sorry to all Celtic and Ranger fans but this decision is prob the best for both of you!

Posted 14:22 13th November 2009

David Tanner says...

Lets bring in Monaco, Ajax, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich...in fact just make it the european league that the top clubs want. see where Mr Gartside's Bolton ends up then

Posted 14:04 13th November 2009

Chrys Doughty (Sunderland fan) says...

It seems a bit of an unbalanced swap to me; Rangers & Celtic for Berwick Rangers!? They want devolution, they've got Jocks at the top of the heap in Westminster working tirelessly to drag the UK into the mire and they've even got their own tin pot parliament. They enjoy nothing more than to slag off the English. I worked in Scotland for a year and have rarely experienced racism at the levels I experienced anywhere else in the world. They're Scottish - STAY IN SCOTLAND

Posted 13:59 13th November 2009

Chris Sullivan says...

I think celtic and rangers could do well in the premier league, given a few years to sort out their financial problems they would definately be able to attract the bigger players needed to compete in the league.Lets not forget they do have 2 massive fan bases and im sure fans woiuld pay higher season ticket prices to go watch them play teams like liverpool and man united. I do agree that if they did move that they would have to start in a lower division and work theyre way up , because it just wouldnt be fair. If celtic and rangers are not desirable why are swansea and cardiff desireable ? In my opinion im sure teams are scared of celtic and rangers, they could challenge for the league given ten years and im sure it would have been the big 4 who voted against it.

Posted 13:53 13th November 2009

Neil Bullock (Everton fan) says...

As a Rangers fan as well as an Evertonian, I am concerned for the Scottish leagues, and so I do think this move can be done. Think of one united British League, I'm sure real fans would love to have weekend trips to parts of scotland or Wales as that is what football is about, travelling up with ya mates and having a good time in places you wouldnt normally go. Yes the original leagues such as EPL and SPL would disappear, however I think the likes of the FA Cup and SFA Cup will stay. Scrap the league cups and then set-up a national cup instead. There could even be pre-season tournaments consisting of all the winners of the Cup competitions (FA cup, SFA cup, Welsh cup) and of course the top league. I think this can only benefit british football, and bring some much needed excitement back into our national game. The only teams that would be opposing this are the teams either in Champions league spots or close to them.

Posted 12:58 13th November 2009

Dean Hardy (Sunderland fan) says...

So we port Celtic and Rangers into our top echelon. What about Newcastle, Leeds Utd who currently stand in lower leagues. What gives these two precendence over those two clubs. Bolton want a two tier Premier League to protect themselves against relegation financially. Introducing Celtic and Rangers will create big receipts for any team playing against them. It's all about the pound notes. Scottish Football loses its two prime brands. It's a non starter all round. Wales have had teams in our set up since well before the premier leagues conception, so that fact used by Scottish clubs and fans is just pointless. Did they want to be in our league in the late 80's or early 90's when Rangers and Souness signed half the England squad, and one of Englands best players in history in Gazza. It's money and money only.

Posted 11:37 13th November 2009

Craig Bradley (Celtic fan) says...

The people who are saying Celtic and Rangers would fail in the Premier League are very wrong. Celtic and Rangers are bigger clubs than most of the teams in the Premiership. Celtic and Rangers are only suffering in the SPL because of finances, those who say the Old Firm are only interested in moving to an England League is for the finances are correct. However, this does not mean that we are now against Scotland, only that we are two massive clubs and that the fans demand success, and the only way that is possible in todays society is through money. The Old Firm would easily get in the top 10 in the Premier League within a few years , and most probably split the so called 'Big 4' after 5 years. Therefore the people who say it is a bad idea are just scared that we will become to good, like the old days...

Posted 11:20 13th November 2009

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