It must have been talked about for 20 years or more now. When will the old firm leave the Scottish league, and enter the fray to mix it with sides south of the border?
It’s fair to say that the Old Firm are too big where they are, but without them, of course, the Scottish league would face an uncertain future. Catch 22. As it stands though, it’s a mute point, as the Premier league have decided against having Celtic and Rangers in the same division.
But Celtic and Rangers have a decision to make. Both clubs are haemorrhaging cash, and will need to do something to stimulate their finances. Knocked back by the Premier League, however, where do they go now ? Well, how about this as a suggestion for getting into the Premier League by the back door ?
As some of you may already know, a team called FC United of Manchester has risen from some of the anti-Glazer faction of the Manchester United fan base. They started in the 10th level of the English league system in 2005, and are now a promotion away from the Conference. You may be able to see where I am heading with this. By using a bit of imagination, Celtic and Rangers could both be league clubs in a few years time.
If Rangers and Celtic were to apply to play in a Cumbrian, or Northumbrian league, they could probably play their youth team and still get promotion. They could start at the very bottom, come into the English game that way, and could be in League Two within 6 years. And there would be no way that English clubs could have any issues with this – I mean Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham are all in the English leagues. So I don’t see why Scottish sides couldn’t be included too – especially if they played their way in. Far out ? Maybe, but remember that Real Madrid and Barcelona also play their reserves teams in lower Spanish leagues, so there is a precedent.
With this plan, no one would lose. The Old Firm first teams could still play in the Scottish leagues (at least for the first few years_, and old firm games would still take place in the usual way – 60,000 would still turn up at Parkhead to watch it.
OK, it’s a rough plan, I admit, and I’m sure the bureaucrats would have something to say about it , but stranger things have happened – for instance, Portsmouth didn’t lose this weekend (but, then again, their match was rained off).
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