Neil Doncaster tells Rangers and Celtic to focus on SPL

Published on Friday 13 November 2009 22:32

SCOTTISH Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster believes the Old Firm should shrug off the disappointment of having a possible move to England blocked to concentrate on helping the game in Scotland.

A proposal by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside to include Celtic and Rangers in a revamped Premier League set-up was rejected on Thursday as not "desirable or viable," leaving the Glasgow giants to reconcile themselves with life in the SPL.

Doncaster is now looking for the Old Firm to concentrate their energies on helping take Scottish football forward.

"It is vital, for anyone who has the best interests of Scottish football at heart, that any change benefits the whole of Scottish football – and not just one or two interests within it," he told www.scotprem.com. "We need to continue to develop, to be prepared to embrace new possibilities. But we need to do so without using self-interest as the only yardstick by which to measure the benefits of any change.

"There is an important job to do – to continue the work that has already been done within the SPL to reinvigorate Scottish football. To build commercial revenues for the benefit of all our clubs. To drive more money into the game so that our clubs can become more competitive within European competition.

"There is no doubt about it – together we are stronger. And having all 12 of our clubs fully focused on their future within Scottish football can only help the SPL carry out that role to in the most effective manner."

Doncaster claimed he was not surprised by the Premier League's decision, but hopes that the "constant speculation" surrounding the future of the Old Firm has now come to an end.

"Whilst football can often appear to be hugely resistant to change, the way the beautiful game has evolved over the past 15 years is remarkable, by any measure," he said. "But one thing that has not changed is the constant speculation about Rangers and Celtic leaving the SPL. This is one story that has continued to surface, time and again.

"Clubs throughout the world have always tended to look at any proposed change from one perspective – ie what's in it for them. And, therefore, it came as no surprise that the English Premier League announced this week that their clubs were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.

"Some say that all publicity is good publicity – that having Scottish football so much part of the UK sports scene over the past few weeks leading up to the discussion of Phil Gartside's paper can only be a good thing. Well, perhaps there is some truth in that. But it is certainly helpful that the speculation has now been put to bed."