Moyes eager to see Old Firm play in England

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 22:59

EVERTON manager David Moyes wants to see the Old Firm playing in the Barclays Premier League.

The Goodison Park chief, Scottish himself and a former Celtic player, sees many virtues in the two-tier Premier League that is reportedly set to be proposed to the football authorities south of the border.

And Moyes has no doubts that the Glasgow giants would be a major boost to the English game.

Moyes said: "I'd like to see a two-tier Premier League because I am a Scotsman; 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 as 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."

Moyes argued that a precedent has already been set with Welsh clubs playing in the English leagues, and he added: "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.

"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."