 For two clubs which average 57,000 and 49,000 respectively, it is only right to call both Celtic and Rangers 'big clubs'. While many teams in England hark back to the glory days, both Celtic and Rangers continually achieve success within their own country and thrive off it. However, their dominance of the league inevitably, somewhat frustratingly and almost always leads to one question: CommentsDan Shearer Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:17:27 Cracking article Dommo, although I'm not sure how they would be 'inserted' into the English/Welsh football league system. You would either have to extend the premiership, so as not to bump off current prem teams, or start them off at the bottom of league 2, or lower, and let them work their way up. An interesting thought!! Douglas Young Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:07:04 Yea John Keith Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:07:50 why can't this topic just die... Chris Bell Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:43:56 I agree wit Douglas as to where the old firm will finish although i think that us and Rangers could possibl fight over a uefa cup spot at best but i to be honest think this subject should be put to bed as a move to the English Premier League would be bad for Scottish Football although. I know that as a club we would benefit but if we left the SPL it would be just a huge nail in th cofin of the SPL as the league atendednces would plummet without Celtic and Rangers. Marc Gilmore Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:08:38 It would be a dream for any Old Firm fan. Of course they would survive, in fact with equal spending power and the global reach that they are able to attract, Rangers and Celtic would be able to challenge for all the honours available, including the Champions League. colin mcrobbie Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:09:44 if Celtic were in the EPL they would be one of the richest clubs. dont think anybody can disagree. they have already said they would increase capicity to about 80,000( full every week if in EPl) they would attract huge sponsership, they have the backing of a huge Scottish/Irish support so why not, of course money does not but sucess, but it help. also the EPL is ususally a 1 or 2 horse race over in feb, so time for a change. james brown Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:10:03 i beleive we are long over due for Celtic and Rangers to join the EPL. i beleive Celtic and rangers have strong enough teams to survive the first season then once they had established themselves, be in a position to propel up the table and challanging the top 4 within 3 years. Celtics financial situation is enviable amongst other clubs. they reguarly churn out a healthy profit and only have £1million of debt left on their books. once their TV rights and sponsers were inplace the EPL would soon become a better leauge then it currently is at the moment. for the future of scottish football (whim have been trying to start a leauge outwith the big two) i think it would give them space to breath and grow. you have to remember Cardiff and swansea play in the english leauge.....and we all now liverpool is the capital of north Wales. lets welcome Celtic and Rangers with open arms tally young Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:10:22 The last thing England needs is more carpet bagging scotmen heading for England.Stick to your own end and stop sponging off the English. I notice colin Mcrobbie uses the words "Celtic and Scottish/Irish" but the English Premier League is just the EPL, that says it all for me,go and get stuffed. Hamish McSporran Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:10:44 Ha ha - spot the shitebag Colin Ray Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:11:06 The SFA are vehemently opposed to a Team GB football team in the London Olympics, fearing that Scottish football would be subsumed into an all British team, in the future. I believe they are right and it's a pity that the English FA (Unionists to a man) don't have the guts to stand up for England and English interests. But then that's the point. Scotland cannot have it both ways. You want independence but also want both of your biggest clubs to take advantage of the wealth created by English Premier Division. Why should two English clubs be placed into a lower division to satisfy Scottish greed? Scotland has been having its cake and eating too, for far too long. Celtic and Rangers should stay north of Antonine's Wall where they belong. And the last thing we want in England is their respective fans carrying on their 'Old Firm' violence and bigotry in our country. Stay away. Gerard stakim Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:11:30 No point dabating this subject as it will never happen. Glasgow Celtic would walk the so called EPL in 3-4 years and become THE strongest team in the world in 6. End of debate robert o'connor Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:11:50 As already said its folly to discuss something that realistically will not happen. However, the idea of Scotland sponging off England is a non sensical argument. A great deal of the sponsors money that comes into the EPL comes from multi national companies based outwith John Bull land - eg AIG, Emirates, Samsung, Carlsberg etc, and it is this money coupled with the monies from SKY and Setanta that makes all the difference. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but do subscribers to these TV companies living outwith the green and pleasant land of John Bull not pay the same levels of subcription as those who are unfortunate enough to live there. Oh, and Colin Ray, it is Hadrians Wall and not Antonines Wall (both clubs already operate south of there) so if you are going to try and be a smart ar*e, at least try and get your historical facts right! Frankie McKeown Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:12:19 The comment about keeping the EPL for the english is rubbish.Swansea and cardiff ring a bell to anyone? or are the barred from promotion.Celtic s only rival in the EPL would be Man utd and eurpean champions would happen for the bhoys with in 5 years Stephen Gash Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:12:43 Ha ha. Hamish McSporran says "spot the sh**tebag, about somebody saying England does not need anymore Scottish carpet baggers, yet his handle is "McSporran". I guess he can't grasp the irony. Let's look at Scottish attitude. Firstly, no Olympic Team GB (which most English fans don't want either BTW) because it would threaten Scottish football's independence. Secondly, Celtic and Rangers could/should join the English Premiership, so that Scottish football will benefit. Scots are known in England as the "Macakeneatits" because they want thie cake while eating England's. Clam Chowder Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:13:12 Waow - the anti-scots bluster from some posters is really quite amusing, not to mention ironic given bigotry is mentioned as a reason for keeping the status-quo. The EPL is not an exclusively English product given it has a majority of non-English players playing in it and is funded by an overwhelming majority of non-English money; from both sponsors and it's majority of non-English viewers. Yet someone mentions the Scots having a piece of this multi-national ash bonanza and the old Blighty prtectionism kicks in with tired, not to mention nonsensicle, old quips about "stay away" and "having your cake and eat it"(?)which one can only but deduce is bourne from the insecurities(some might say xenophobea) of the white working class. It's ok, kids, talking about it doesn't mean you're going to wake in the morning to the sound of marauding Scots in kilts knicking the washing off your line and tossing cabers on your cricket pitches. Any decisions will be taken, as always, regardless of your nationalistic opposition and will, as always, be taken on the grounds of commercial opportunity. Realising and coming to terms with this will save you emotional distress and the inevitable coronary that follows. Dom O'Shea Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:27:08 Most of your comments are well-argued. I think an interesting point is that an SPL minus Celtic and Rangers could open the doors to Scottish players getting good, regular access to the Champions League. Sure, the number of places allocated would decrease at first, but a good performance over a couple of years could open 2 Champions League places (one auto) to the likes of Hearts. I personally think this could only benefit Scottish football on the whole - and as many have said, I think Rangers and Celtic would be competing at the top end of the EPL within a couple of seasons. Suggestions that they would have no chance are ridiculous. And it is possible to make the move - look at Swansea and Cardiff - but Celtic and Rangers would have to completely separate themselves from the Scottish league - it would never work on a trial basis. But I think theres a chance Scottish football could thrive on the European places for the 'lower clubs'. Thoughts? Arsenal Man Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:27:57 We all know about Celtics support down south,I reckon theres more Celtic fans in London than Manchester United or Liverpool,never mind there mind boggling support in places like Ireland,and Germany.I feel too that if Celtic joined the EPL the Manchester United(and now probably city) would come to an abrupt end in a very short period of time,I suppose thats why Sir Alex is against it.It would be Celtic who would be competing with Real Madrid for world domination.Rangers too would make great mouth watering competition,sure as heck would beat the likes of playing Wigan,Stoke and Hull David Lane Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:15:41 Stephen Gash Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:16:08 Being accused of xenophobia and bigotry from a Scot is priceless. I think yaa orl neeyud tae be sent haemward tae think agayern. Stay away with your "Billy boys" and IRA crap. Er... I think you'll find that's called "bigotry" and "xenophobia GERARD Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:16:26 Are you called Gash because of the amount of scars you have on your nose for being punched so often? clam chowder Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:12:50 I don't what's more embarrassing, the lame attempt at an insult or your inability to construct a sentence properly. lol! I guess you don't do irony, pettle. Stephen Gash Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:08:08 @Gerard: That's your attempt to persuade us of the benefits of having "thae auld ferum" in the English Premier League is it? I use my real name because I know some dimwit, dumbass Jock will believe he's won the argument by referring to it. Once again I am not disappointed. So would the ENGLISH Premier League have to be renamed before Celtic and Rangers deign to grace it with their esteemed presence, or will they be willing to play under the English banner? Scots have ruined the country, we don't need them despoiling English football el capitan Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:08:26 Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but is it not the FA Premier League? I don't remember seeing the English Prem written anywhere official. Plus there's a good chance at least one of Cardiff or Swansea will be in the top division next year. It's only a name in any case, it won't be what stops the move. clam chowder Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:08:45 Lol! Is that what Gerard was doing? I took it as an attempt to ridicule you rather than win an argument. In response to the second part of your illogical post. I don't know - will they change the name should Cardiff or Swansea win promotion? Or let me guess, you hadn't really thought it through before posting? Really, kid, if you are going to take a stance in this hypothetical debate i suggest you work on building a valid and coherent argument before embarrassing yourself further with tired, predictable and rather lame attempts at nationalistic insults. Marc Gilmore Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:28:39 The truth of the matter is that the english are scared as hell to open up the premiership to Rangers and Celtic. Should one of us win it, they will have egg on their faces forever. Not that it's their decision. The Premiership is the best league in the world - if you look at the success of the english clubs in europe lately. However, as blatter recently argues, the league is anti-competitive, as anti-competitive as the SPL actually - about the same percentage of teams have a realistic chance of winning it. shaun the brummie Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:07:46 oi jocks you want independence,well demand it we the english would be as pleased as punch to see you go.the welsh and n.irish can piss off as well.and as for getting into the english football setup you can forget it.i will relish watching your football clubs wither stagnate and die,and scotland never getting into a football competion except the celtic cup LOL. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:33:14 Dear Sir /Madam, Leave a Reply |  Me? I'm Dominic O'Shea, and living in Paris. I love all sport, and here you'll find me reporting on it. To find exactly what your looking for though, Click on the categories below...CategoriesAll ArchivesApril 2009 |
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