Old Firm keen to pursue talks on move to English Premier II

Published on Monday 20 April 2009 23:18

A PROPOSAL to invite the Old Firm into a two-tier Premier League in England is being taken seriously by the Glasgow clubs as the current financial climate continues to threaten sources of revenue.

The Scotsman understands that Rangers have an open mind on Bolton Wanderers' chairman Phil Gartside's plan, even though it would mean entering the English set-up at the second tier level. With Rangers interested, Celtic will also be looking at the suggestion seriously – although even if it came to pass, it would be unlikely to happen before season 2014/15 because of the existing broadcasting agreement in England.

The idea of the Old Firm competing in England has been mooted many times, but this is the first time the overture has come from south of the Border.

Last week's claims that Setanta could seek to re-negotiate the terms of their present deal with the Scottish Premier League has left clubs more concerned about the future. Television, however, will continue to call the tune.

However, any hope the Old Firm have of playing in a two-tier Premier League in England has been put on hold until at least the summer after Gartside's proposal was left off the agenda ahead of Thursday's meeting of Premier League clubs. Unless he asks for it be considered under 'any other business', debate will be postponed for a few months until another meeting. It is understood that this stage of the season is not viewed as the right time for such discussions.

Gartside's plan is for a two-tier Premier League with 18 clubs in each division. Only one club would be relegated from Premier League II to the Football League each season. The proposal would need the approval of 14 out of the 20 Premier League chairmen. Gartside, who is one of the longest-serving chairmen in the top flight and a member of the Football Association's board, has argued it would offer more financial stability to teams in the lower half of the current top-flight.

Significantly, it is middle-ranking clubs who might drive the proposal through. Many are owned by individuals whose wealth relies on the club following the impact of the recession. The income garnered from the television deals with Sky and Setanta is an insurance policy, and one they are keen to sustain – or even boost – by the involvement of the Old Firm in any future league reconstruction.

In this respect the situation differs to those many times when the topic has arisen in the past. When reflecting on his 20-year tenure as Rangers chairman in November last year, chairman Sir David Murray said there was "no sign" of a route into England opening up for the Old Firm.

"Why do they need us?" he asked. "The bottom clubs are like turkeys, they won't vote for Christmas."

But now these clubs recognise they could benefit from the Old Firm's presence, self-interest has kicked in again. This time it could open the way for both Rangers and Celtic to leave Scottish football. It remains an attractive possibility for Scotland's two biggest clubs.

"It is not a level playing field," said Murray in November. "We cannot compete financially. My frustration is to not be able to take the club to a higher level. We are restricted by playing in Scotland, we compete with Celtic. Hearts split us one year and, early in my tenure, Celtic weren't always second but really, it is a bit of a foregone conclusion most of the time. That does not make the menu as interesting as it could be."

Although resistance from both the Scottish Football Association and the English FA is expected, Uefa appears to be neutral to the idea and would be willing to leave any decision to the leagues and associations involved. Uefa director of communications William Gaillard said: "We wouldn't take a position on such a proposal."

There is also precedence when it comes to clubs playing outwith the borders of their native country. Indeed, Cardiff City, despite a surprise 6-0 loss against Preston North End, could still win promotion to the Premiership this season, and become the first Welsh club to play in the top division in England since Swansea in the early Eighties.

Although there was no official comment from Rangers and Celtic yesterday, the Scottish Premier League issued a response to the reports. "We are aware of this story, and have been for a while," said a spokesman. "There are no detailed plans and it looks like there will be obstacles to clear before it gains any momentum."

Gartside's plan would need backing from over half the top-flight clubs. However, with the spectre of relegation haunting most this season, the prospect of softening the financial blow of dropping a division could hold appeal.

• William Hill are offering odds of 6-1 that either or both Rangers and Celtic have joined the Premiership on or before the opening day of the 2014/15 season. Hills offer 1-12 that it will not happen.

If Celtic and Rangers were to join the Premiership next season they would each be 500-1 to win it, and each 6-4 to be relegated.

Levein would like to see the back of Old Firm for 'selfish' reasons

ALTHOUGH Scottish football is braced for the impact felt by the Old Firm's possible departure not everyone was immediately fearful of the consequences.

With his Dundee United side having lost only once in six league meetings against both Rangers and Celtic this season Craig Levein might have been expected to vote for the teams staying put. However, the Tannadice manager simply wants to increase the chances of United winning the league for the first time since their sole title success in 1983. He is realistic enough to know that while his side have proved they can compete with the Old Firm on one-off occasions it will remain almost impossible for United to come out on top over the course of a season providing things remain as they are.

"I have no idea whether it would be for the benefit of Scottish football – I do not own a crystal ball," Levein said. "On a purely selfish note if they were not in the league it would make it a bit easier for us to win it. I think there would be five or six teams in with a chance of winning the league, while now, in all likelihood, there is just two.

"It's difficult with the spending power those two teams have to compete over a season," he continued. "So it would certainly make the league more open, and more exciting. Other people would probably argue we are losing the two biggest clubs and it might be a slippery slope. But the way I am looking at it I would be quite happy for them to go."

Levein has been mentioned as a possible successor to Walter Smith as manager of Rangers, so could find that his ambition to work again in England – he spent just over a year as manager of Leicester in the Championship – could come when in charge of a Scottish club. But for now he is only concerned about what the Old Firm's departure would mean for United's ambitions.

"Results this season indicate that on any given day most of the teams in the SPL can give the Old Firm teams a run for their money," he said. "But the problem comes in sustaining that over a period of time."