Moyes wants Old Firm switch

Scot thinks Premiership would benefit from Glasgow giants

By James Riach   Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Moyes wants Old Firm switch

Moyes: Wants Old Firm in Prem

I would rather this than an Atlantic league, or some other European league. We have Welsh teams playing in English football so why not Scottish?

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Everton manager David Moyes has admitted he would like to see Rangers and Celtic in the Premier League.

The Scottish coach, who used to play for Celtic, believes a two-tier Premiership with the Old Firm clubs in the bottom half would have a number of benefits for the English game.

The Glasgow giants have long been linked with a breakaway from the Scottish Premier League, with Rangers manager Walter Smith saying that Scottish football is in danger of dying if the Old Firm are not allowed to leave.

A proposed Atlantic League has been suggested, with the likes of Ajax, PSV, Lyon, Porto and Marseille coming together to form a separate division, but Toffees boss Moyes would rather see the two clubs move south of the border.

"I'd like to see a two-tier Premier League because I am a Scotsman," he said.

"It would be great for everybody to see Celtic and Rangers initially in a Premier League Two.

"I'm sure they would very quickly move into Premier League One. I feel it would be of great benefit for everybody.

"TV would be interested, the media would be interested and, undoubtedly, the support and crowds would increase at every ground in the country.

"Both Celtic and Rangers have as big a support than any team in England. From that point of view, it would help the game in England if we needed a boost in revenue.

"Maybe if crowds have dropped a little, or the TV revenue drops, this would be a way to address that situation."

Domination

No side other than the Old Firm pair has won the SPL since its formation in 1998, with Hearts the only side to have broken into the top two in the last 11 years - at the expense of Rangers in 2006.

Many believe that if the Glasgow clubs were to withdraw from the Scottish top flight, other sides would benefit. However, Moyes believes the Scottish game would suffer.

"It would have a detrimental effect on the game in Scotland, but if there was the chance for the rest of the Scottish teams to maybe be in a play-off with an English team to Premier League Two, something like that would be workable," he added.

"I would rather this than an Atlantic league, or some other European league. We have Welsh teams playing in English football so why not Scottish?

"The Scottish teams are really, really big clubs and I feel it would be good for everyone.

"I am sure it would work, even if it would open a can of worms over other nations, say Belgium and Holland, for example, joining forces.

"But it is something worth looking at in England."

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Comments (13)

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John Kerr (Millwall fan) says...

premiership???Championship????they should start at the very back and work through the divisions, why should they start at the championship or premiership??at least that way they could concentrate on winning the carling cup and f.a. cup,he,he,he what a laugh. However I do feel that if Celtic and Rangers were allowed to enter the Championship or the Premiership, they would easily be BIGGER than any team in England and that includes Manchest United. Nuff sed

Posted 16:24 6th November 2009

Patrick Mcglone (Celtic fan) says...

Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in world and with the finances that being in the premiership would bring to Celtic, would easily hold their own in that league, and would break the dominance of the so called big four. Of course I am not saying we could do that with our current team, but that is purely down to finances. So much is fuss is made about the SPL being a two horse race, but this is the exact same scenario in England, maybe worse as it is Man Utd who dominate. Fact is that teams like Wolves dont want the Old Firm to go to England as that would mean there team would lose their position as they are simply not good enough and never will be! On another note, while Hearts did finish second in 2006, it was in fact at the expense of Rangers, as Celtic won the league that year. It would be nice to have a writer who knows what they are talking about

Posted 16:23 6th November 2009

Darren Watson (Leeds United fan) says...

Why sould they be allowed, if they do allow this then they should start in league two and work there way up. The premier league is the best league in the world without doubt so what will this acheive? also why only rangers and celtic other teams in scotland could be better with a bit of money (ie premier league money). At the minute in my opinon these teams would not be able to compete in the premiership and if they did get relegated to the championship would they want to move back up north?

Posted 16:21 6th November 2009

Martyn Sansom (Rangers fan) says...

I agree, put them in the championship and see how we get on, let us work our way up. If we got thrown straight into the prem we'd struggle as we do not have the finances to buy players and compete. After 2-3 seasons though i do think Rangers and celtic would be top ten prem sides due to the financial backing the premiership offers.

Posted 16:19 6th November 2009

Steve N (Liverpool fan) says...

How do you just add all these extra teams to our league. you can't just insert a PL2! between PL & Championship, that would add another year to all of our lower teams potential of promotion. Imagine your a newcastle fan with chance of getting back into the prem, if Moyes is thinking of Cherry picking the better teams from the lower leagues & SPL, whats the criteria, and would it mean automatic relagation for those teams that didnt get picked? this idea has been around for years but has never happend because of the Logistics involved

Posted 16:17 6th November 2009

John Hutchinson (Crystal Palace fan) says...

This is really a non story! People have been talking about this for decades...yes decades and it has never got to stage 1....it will never happen.

Posted 16:10 6th November 2009

Royston Green (Manchester United fan) says...

Yes, I would love to see them in the Premier League but I agree with the Wolves fan, they should start in the Championship. They are up to the premier league standard as yet. Look at their players(not all) some of them have left the premier league because they are no longer good enough or too slow etc. They can however, survive a few more years in the SPL.

Posted 16:09 6th November 2009

Pete Lawson (Burnley fan) says...

If they want to come an play in our leagues they should start at the bottom like cardiff an swansea why should they have the right to jump straight into the prem when everyone else has to work so hard to get there, and i dont think the rangers fans did them any favours after what they did in manchester the other year and in mid week we have got rid of most of the fan trouble in this country

Posted 16:05 6th November 2009

Ian Brown (Celtic fan) says...

Heart's did not split the Old Firm at Celtic's expense. Celtic won the SPL that season. Rangers came third.

Posted 16:00 6th November 2009

Shaun Rutherford (Manchester United fan) says...

It was at the expense of rangers that hearts broke in to the top two in 2005/2006.

Posted 15:59 6th November 2009

T Fox (Arsenal fan) says...

There is no point have either Rangers or Celtic in the English game, purely and simply because they would add nothing to it!! It's not as if we're talking about two world class teams! They have proven to be dismal yet again in Europe and the best player in Scotland a few seasons ago Barry Ferguson looks awful at Birmingham!! If they came over, they would be another two teams battling out relegation! No thanks Scotland!

Posted 15:58 6th November 2009

Michael Bonar (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

Moyes is having a laugh, it will be another 2 teams of foreigners and we have enough of them already in the league. Along with there supporters, who let's face it do not like the English, we will be going back to football fracas's at every game they played in England Keep them where they belong-in Scotland

Posted 15:55 6th November 2009

David Williams (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

Put them in the Championship so they can prove that they are good enough to get into the Premier League. I think they would both struggle in the Championship.

Posted 15:47 6th November 2009
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