Premier League Rejects Old Firm

[the scenic route]

The Premier League has rejected a plan to bring Celtic and Rangers into English football's top flight.

The Old Firm pair had hoped to be part of new plans put forward by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside for a two-tier league of between 36 and 40 teams.

The SPL pair would have been invited to join the lower league, but the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected.

Premier League clubs will now consider whether to introduce a two-tier system as part of a wider strategic review.

"Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideas concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tiers with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers," read a Premier League statement.

"The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.

"The other relevant ideas contained within Bolton's paper will now be taken forward as part of the wider strategic review being undertaken by the Premier League since November 2008 with the aim of providing recommendations before December 2010."

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, now in charge of Aston Villa, and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had backed the inclusion of the Scottish clubs in the Premier League.

The proposals were a revival of Gartside's ideas aired six months ago.

They received a hostile reception from the Premier League's 20 chairmen then, but Gartside remains concerned that too much money continues to flow into the coffers of the top four clubs.

Last season, champions Manchester United earned £52.3m in Premier League television money, compared to £31.6m for bottom club West Bromwich Albion.

The fact that the four clubs in the Champions League also earned between £20m and £33m from European TV and prize money - and benefit from huge ticket and merchandise revenue - has led a number of chairmen of mid and lower-ranking clubs to ponder a possible review.

In his annual report, published last week, Gartside made it clear that he believed tackling the big differences in income was the league's greatest challenge.

"Addressing this polarisation of clubs and the increasing revenue differentials will, I believe, be the major strategic issue for the Premier League over coming years," he said.

"The Premier League is an exciting product for supporters and for television viewers, but there is no doubt that as the years go by, and the same few clubs continue to benefit from the huge additional revenues from the Champions League, the remaining clubs find it enormously difficult to challenge.

"At the same time, the gap between Premier League revenues and those of the Championship continues to widen and I believe a 'fear factor' is beginning to emerge amongst Premier League clubs outside the top few."

The big clubs are likely to oppose any major change to the status quo, pointing out they have already boosted income to the smaller clubs by agreeing to every club receiving payment of facility fees for at least 10 televised matches totalling £4.8m, even if they only appear in a handful of live games on TV.

The next overseas TV deal - which is split equally among clubs - is likely to be close to £1bn, up from the current £650m and equating to an extra £6m per club per season.

But Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston believes the Premier League's rejection is not the end of the issue.

"I don't think it's the end of the talk in terms of moving away because I think there are winds of change moving across Uefa," he said.

"For Rangers or Celtic to enjoy a profile in a new world order of football, something will need to change in the next two to five years"

[Rafa]

If Gartside is so concerned about the revenue inequalities in the Premier League why doesn't he pursue some sort of proposal that would aim to level out the TV money? This proposal is simply to safeguard clubs like Bolton from relegation out of the Premier League and it should not be allowed.

I would have no problem with all clubs in the Premier League receiving an equal amount of revenue from TV rights but the Champions League money is there as a reward for achieving a top four finish and it is why teams strive to get there.

[ballinaman]

Both would be better suited to the championship going by this years form...thats coming from a celtic supporter.

[lynchbhoy]

Both would be better suited to the championship going by this years form...thats coming from a celtic supporter.

any extra money would help transform them into a decent side - and right now they get feck all dosh so the move to a second level div in england would still be a financial improvement !


I think there were at least four managers/chairmen in favour of the move- gartside,MON, Redknapp and David Moyes.

I think the revenues in theepl right now are ok so clubs are not feeling the pinch, but once the current sky tv deal runs out or if the soccer clubs start to feel the downturn with fans not buying merchandise or match tickets etc - then it could be a big push for Celtic and rangers to then join !

[dublinfella]

If I'm reading this right, this was a suggestion from the Bolton Chairman, the Old Firm didn't even ask.

Curious.

[johnneycool]

Both would be better suited to the championship going by this years form...thats coming from a celtic supporter.

any extra money would help transform them into a decent side - and right now they get feck all dosh so the move to a second level div in england would still be a financial improvement !


I think there were at least four managers/chairmen in favour of the move- gartside,MON, Redknapp and David Moyes.

I think the revenues in theepl right now are ok so clubs are not feeling the pinch, but once the current sky tv deal runs out or if the soccer clubs start to feel the downturn with fans not buying merchandise or match tickets etc - then it could be a big push for Celtic and rangers to then join !

If Celtic and Rangers were to join the EPL in whatever format, would they automatically forfeit their route into the champions league as Scottish champions?

i'd assume so.

[mountainboii]

Both would be better suited to the championship going by this years form...thats coming from a celtic supporter.

any extra money would help transform them into a decent side - and right now they get feck all dosh so the move to a second level div in england would still be a financial improvement !


I think there were at least four managers/chairmen in favour of the move- gartside,MON, Redknapp and David Moyes.

I think the revenues in theepl right now are ok so clubs are not feeling the pinch, but once the current sky tv deal runs out or if the soccer clubs start to feel the downturn with fans not buying merchandise or match tickets etc - then it could be a big push for Celtic and rangers to then join !

If Celtic and Rangers were to join the EPL in whatever format, would they automatically forfeit their route into the champions league as Scottish champions?

i'd assume so.

They'd end up in the same boat as Swansea, Cardiff and Wexham I'd imagine, so yes.

[dublinfella]

If Celtic and Rangers were to join the EPL in whatever format, would they automatically forfeit their route into the champions league as Scottish champions?

i'd assume so.

Of course, they wouldn't be playing in Scotland anymore....

[magickingdom]

cardiff might be in the premier league next year..... sooner or later there will be one british league and then national team

[ITS KAAAT]

There just right rejecting. Celtic & Rangers wouldnt even count in league 2 at the min,even mind the premier league.they would get it tough in league 1.2 bad teams.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

There just right rejecting. Celtic & Rangers wouldnt even count in league 2 at the min,even mind the premier league.they would get it tough in league 1.2 bad teams.

Yeah I could see most league 2 teams going to Hamburg and getting a draw. If Celtic got the extra money they would be quite competitive in the premier league. Working off far less money they have managed to beat Man U, Liverpool and Blackburn this decade.

[orangeman]

Both teams not good enough for Premiership - in fact a long way off it to be honest.

[under the bar]

The premier league teams would brick it if Celtic were given entry.  With a £30M minimum warchest, a 60K+ gate every week guaranteed not to mention their global appeal they'd be pushing for a CL spot within a few years.

[Minder]

The premier league teams would brick it if Celtic were given entry.  With a £30M minimum warchest, a 60K+ gate every week guaranteed not to mention their global appeal they'd be pushing for a CL spot within a few years.

Sounds like Newcastle Utd..........

[ITS KAAAT]

There just shite....need to buy players,backs r kaaat,morbray needs to get it sorted,and look happy,u cant play beauiful football if ur going to get beat.