Mark McGhee: SPL could sink to level of League of Ireland

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 12:11

THE Clydesdale Bank Premier League is in danger of sinking to the level of the League of Ireland, according to Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee.

McGhee believes the Scottish top flight bore comparison with its English counterpart prior to the formation of the Barclays Premier League.

But he insists the SPL is now on a par with the Coca-Cola Championship and warned it would continue to fall further behind the English leagues if something was not done to arrest the slide.

He told RedTV: "The English Premier League is now a world-class league; it's no longer a British-class league.

"I'm not sure that I would, in my day, have got a game in the Premier League as it is today.

"I think we really have to compare ourselves with Championship clubs.

"As long as we keep eroding the financial side and they keep getting away from us, that is going to change again, and very soon we're going to be comparing it to the First Division (League One).

"And if it keeps going the way it is, we could eventually be comparing it to – no disrespect – the Irish league."

McGhee's stark forecast will be seen as a further blow to the reputation of the SPL, which has had to deal with the Old Firm repeatedly stating their desire to leave the competition.

But the Dons boss reckons there is still time for something to be done to keep it on a level with the Championship.

"I think that involves a bit of change," he said.

"Whether that involves summer football, I don't know. But I'd like someone to go and explore it scientifically.

"Then we can maybe make some decisions that would improve our lot and improve our chances of maintaining us at that sort of level, Championship level."

McGhee reckons the hopes of that occurring has been boosted by the Premier League's decision to reject the Old Firm's bid to move to England this week.

He said: "I think that Scottish football, the SPL and the other clubs need the Old Firm.

"It's a nonsense to think that we'd be better off without them."