Jordan wants Old Firm to pay up
Proposal expected for Celtic and Rangers to join English league
Last updated: 20th April 2009
Jordan: In support of proposal
They should not have a God given right to walk into English football and displace two other teams and there should be a renumeration level set. I’d suggest 100m and the immediate financial benefits that arise for both clubs would soon cover it.
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes Celtic and Rangers should pay 100million if they want to play in English football.
Reports claim Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside will put forward a groundbreaking proposal to fellow Premier League clubs on Thursday.
Gartside has plans for a Premiership 1 and 2, with 18 teams in each division and Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers offered a place in the second tier.
Jordan is in support of Gartside’s reported proposal and believes the Scottish giants playing in the English league would benefit the British game.
However, the Palace chief feels the SPL title rivals should pay an entry fee to the league, with the outlay to be recouped by money from television deals.
Evolving
“Football is evolving all the time and this would be great for the Scottish clubs, but they should pay to come down,” Jordan told the Daily Record.
"They should not have a God given right to walk into English football and displace two other teams and there should be a renumeration level set.
"I’d suggest 100m and the immediate financial benefits that arise for both clubs would soon cover it.
"Their share price would go through the ceiling on the back of massive revenue increases. The SPL does not attract a worldwide audience - the Premiership does.
"It would be a great thing for Celtic and Rangers, but the Old Firm would not add enormously to the levels of interest in a league that’s already massively exposed.
"A lot of people will object to the idea, but I’m not one of them. It would be good for British football.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see it happen, but it’s still a long way off as no deals can be done until the next round of talks with broadcasters, scheduled for 2013.”