The idea of a league of the smaller nations is old at this stage. Havenât seen the structure of it living alongside the SPL suggested by anyone else. Iâve said it a couple of times on different forums before though. It usually gets laughed off or ignored but I think itâs a great solution.
Solution to what?
Ah donât be all precious about how leagues are now.
Itâs a solution to the dilution of the CL. A solution to the fact that European football is in danger of becoming a monopoly of the richest clubs backed by the richest owners.
It creates a competition for those who donât have the ridiculous revenue streams of the EPL that allows them to fairly compete against eachother and might increase their chances of acquitting themselves better in wider European competitions.
But would they take it seriously? You get jumped-up midtable outfits treating the UEFA Cup with contempt so I fail to see how this would acquire any kind of prestige, beyond asking fans to fork out ridiculous amounts of money leading to brutal away support in most games.
I didnât post about this earlier as I didnât think there was anything in it but Peter Lawwellâs just been on 'Tic TV talking about it.
He said theyâre awaiting more details on the official proposal but theyâd be obliged to consider it.
He claimed there seems to be support for something like EPL2 in England from both the top clubs and lesser clubs.
The latter like the security of a softer landing if theyâre relegated from the top flight and EPL2 would be more cash rich than the current Championship.
And the former are positive about an 18-team league, which would mean 4 fewer games in the league and allow for more rest ahead of European ties.
Usually, the âCeltic to Englandâ stories come from journalists and pundits but this is an actual proposal so itâll be interesting to see what reaction it gets later in the week.
Rockâs idea seems fairly attractive to Celtic, Rangers and the big clubs from those leagues, although I donât think anyone would give any sort of shite about the second tier of it.
I still canât understand how Celtic fans, especially Irish ones, arenât up for them joining the Premiership though. The two Glasgow teams have the potential to be absolute giants of the world game were they to play in England given the fan base they have.
Within a couple of years they would no doubt both be top six clubs in England at least.
Celtic would also absolutely clean up on the support base in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora all round the world were they playing week in week out in such a high profile league.
Given that Irish Celtic fans arenât Scottish and argue long and hard about Celticâs place as an âIrishâ club I donât see the major problem in them moving from one British league to another?
I definitely think it would actually be good for the Scottish league too as it would really open up the competition and give them a chance of winning things for once.
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And the former are positive about an 18-team league, which would mean 4 fewer games in the league and allow for more rest ahead of European ties.
.[/QUOTE]
If celtic were to join it would be in the second tier which would mean that they wouldnât have european football for the first few years at a mimimumâŚ
I donât think they would mind that, if all this is true theyâd be fools not to want in.
Chick Youngâs take on the whole thing.
They are, I see, attempting a remake of the Great Escape.
The Old Firm are poised to attempt to tunnel out again but it will all end in tears, as grisly a mess as poor Steve McQueen on his motorbike.
It is a weary debate, but if they go they will have the blood of the Scottish professional game on their hands. Not that, I suspect, huge swathes of their support - blinded as they are with a love of Ireland and England and a loathing of the Tartan Army - will care.
What a divided little nation we are. And we are about; it seems, to be sliced once again.
Rangers and Celtic have been flaunting themselves to the English Premier League for some time now, like two old tarts promenading a beach in Blackpool or Benidorm.
But the truth is that they have had more knock-backs from the neighbours than Derek Riordan has had from bouncers in Edinburgh.
But Iâll tell you this; the get-on-your-way-it-will-be-a-better-place-without-you brigade has no idea of how serious the situation really is.
Celtic and Rangersâ departure to the south would leave the Scottish game with its throat cut⌠because in the real sense it is not a departure at all.
God isnât going to reach down from heaven and transport the pair of them to new homes in Milton Keynes and Chelmsford. They will still be right here soaking up the media attention and the television money.
And the game they left behind wonât just be a backwater: it will be a puddle.
A more competitive championship, Iâll grant you but pub dominoes can be that.
I wish it were different. Too true I do. But too many have been brainwashed.
I attended a voting lunch this week to decide on the Clydesdale Bank manager, player and young player of the year and there were people sat round the table who clearly had a problem with a non Old Firm player winning the award.
There is without a shadow of doubt an agenda in this country which warms to Celtic and Rangers. It is not a level playing field, it never has been.
The Old Firm got rich on reasons that had nothing to do with football and for decades the two of them milked the great divide.
The current custodians at Parkhead and Ibrox have done much drag sections of their support kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but they still have a baggage about which our English friends may be gloriously nave.
Hereâs the truth. It is not always joyous with the Old Firm about the place but life would be much worse without them.
Do we seriously believe that the clubs they left behind - with no television interest or newspaper coverage worth the description - would raise enough of the folding stuff to attract players capable of giving us the moments Rangers and Celtic have brought us in European competition?
Itâs Saturday. St Mirren are playing Kilmarnock. Eight miles up the road Rangers are at home to Manchester United while in London Celtic are visiting Chelsea. So the spotlight is where?
Itâs Buckingham Palace versus a Wendy House and there is not a media organisation worth its salt which wonât recognise where the audience is.
John Boyle, who should be too busy planting grass seed to comment, nevertheless made a fair point when he said this is a bigger threat to Scottish football than Team GB for the London Olympics.
The Motherwell chairman is right. But if the Old Firm move and we give in to the Government about 2012 then everything that Scottish football has stood for in a century and more is flushed right down the pan.
It is murder and self-interest is the motive.
And I know on whose hands the blood will dry.
Fair play to him. I wouldnât expect the money men of the OF to care about the state of the domestic game in Scotland, but itâs refreshing to know someone does.
Itâs funny how the Scottish media revel in sticking the knife into Celtic players (âthugs and thievesâ etc) and supporters, yet commence a âplease donât go routineâ as soon as EPL 2 is mooted.
I donât think Celtic owe anything to the other clubs or the SPL. The latter have historically been grossly incompetent at best, but more likely biased to the core. The post-split fixture announcement on Sunday shows what Celtic are dealing with but thatâs just the latest incident.
The other clubs milk Celtic supporters by significantly raising ticket prices for away supporters when Celtic visit so fook them. They also get a tidy chunk of TV income that would plummet if Celtic were allowed to independently negoatiate their own TV deal.
Celtic owe these cunts nothing.
Iâm not in favour of Celtic joining the EPL at all. Just doesnât sit right with me. Donât really think that an amalgamation of leagues as the main âdomesticâ competition is the way forward.
But Chick Young (with his borrowed quotes and all) has a bit of a cheek to slag off Celtic and the Huns and what they have brought to Scottish football while at the same time condemning them for evening thinking about leaving. You canât have it both ways. Either theyâre good for the game or theyâre not.
So Celtic and Rangers are victims and should be above criticism? Righto.
I donât think anybody said they should be above criticism. But Celtic should assess whether this is a better option for themselves and their fans above considering what impact it has on other clubs and their supporters.
Dermot Desmond, one of Celticâs top shareholders, believes the Scottish champions could join the English Premier League within 10 years.
Celtic and Rangers have long dominated their own domestic league, and both are eager to challenge themselves south of the border, but so far those attempts have met mutedly in England.
However Desmond believes that financial difficulties facing clubs in England will eventually lead the FA and the Premier League to bring in the vast money-making potential of Celtic and Rangers.
âThey will open up some time to us but I would think it could be in the next 10 years,â Desmond said.
"We have no debt. We are probably one of the most independent clubs in the whole of Great Britain and Ireland.
âTen or 11 clubs will go into administration. I would not be surprised if three or four go into administration in the Premier League,â he added.
Desmond added that clubs should also cap their spending to safeguard them from financial worries.