English Clubs Reject Old Firm Switch
Celtic and Rangers Denied Move to EPL Following Emphatic Vote
Phil Gartside, chairman of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, put forward a proposal to the other 19 club chairman of the English Premier League to revamp the current system, replacing it with a new two-tier Premier League containing up to 20 clubs in each and including Scottish Premier League clubs Celtic and Rangers. Gartside argued that the distribution of television deal money in England is stacked heavily in favour of the top four clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. He also revealed his fears that, if the status quo prevails, the smaller clubs in the English top flight will not only be unable to compete on the field, but may also face the very real prospect of going out of business due to falling incomes and rising debts.
The Vote
The Premier League chairmen voted 14-6 against including Celtic and Rangers in any new set-up, with Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Barclays Premier League, commenting afterwards that "no means no - Celtic and Rangers are not coming in".
What Happens Now?
While the vote appears to have killed off any hopes the Scottish clubs may have been harbouring, the figures may offer a glimmer of encouragement. At a previous vote on the same issue, the result was 20-0 against, which would suggest that there has been a softening on the part of some of the chairmen, most probably from the some of the more unfashionable clubs currently suffering financial problems such as Fulham, Portsmouth, Hull and Bolton. Furthermore, the vote also fails to reflect the will of the Championship clubs who would also be required to sign up to any such proposal, with a large majority of the clubs thought to favour including Celtic and Rangers in the second tier in the hope of attracting more sponsorship and landing an even more lucrative television deal.
While the proposal to invite the Scottish clubs was dismissed, Gartside's plans for a new two-tier league did survive a vote, and will now be discussed in more detail by the rest of the league chairmen. Again, this could be encouraging for Celtic and Rangers as, with Gartside firmly in their corner and the major driving force behind the shake-up, they will be quietly confident that their case will at least be stated fully in any future meetings.
The Alternatives for Celtic and Rangers
Despite Celtic's assertions that the meeting and the proposals are a matter for the English Premier League and nothing to do with them, and Rangers' public claims that they have maintained only a watching brief regarding the proposal, neither club have made any attempt to hide their desire to leave the Scottish Premier League. Whether it is a move to England or a switch to some kind of European league including top clubs from Holland, Portugal, France and other smaller European nations, it is clear that the Old Firm feel they have outgrown the Scottish league. Rangers' current financial plight and the disappointing showing from both Scottish clubs on the European stage this season would suggest that they must find new ways of increasing revenue if they are to compete with the top clubs in Europe and maximise the benefits of their massive worldwide fan base. Gaining the blessing of FIFA, the governing body of the sport, and UEFA may be a difficult hurdle to overcome, but the winds of change appear to be gathering pace and, whether or not it is as a part of Gartside's new two-tier Premier League, it seems certain that the issue is not going to disappear as both clubs seek pastures new.
How Would They Fare?
As things stand currently, Celtic and Rangers are struggling to compete on the European stage. Celtic failed to qualify for the Champions League and sit bottom of Europa League Group C, while Rangers have fared little better, propping up Group G in the Champions League.
The current financial climate has prompted an exodus of high profile players from both clubs, with little or no resources available to replace them. What both clubs do have, however, is a massive following worldwide and huge crowds at every home match which, allied with the kind of television money enjoyed by the top clubs in England, would immediately make them a much more attractive proposition for top players in Europe. If this gulf in revenue was closed, competing for the top players in the world would be a realistic possibility. The view north of the border is that both Glasgow sides would be capable of challenging the dominance of the EPL's top four: Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
This scenario still seems to be a long way down the line, if ever at all, but, if either club are to fulfil their potential and remain competitive on the European stage, it is clear that a move away from the confines of Scottish football is not only necessary, but inevitable.
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