Finally, it appears that the Chairmen of England’s Premier League clubs have ended any chance Celtic and Rangers had of moving south. The idea has been discussed on a regular basis over the last 10 years (much of the talk coming from the Scottish media and the clubs themselves) but the idea of the Old Firm joining England’s top flight, or a proposed EPL 2, was described in a statement as “neither viable, nor desirable.”
Certainly, the arrival of Scotland’s big two would have been an added selling point for Sky TV to promote their coverage, but given the current strength of English football, Celtic and Rangers are not required. They have huge fans bases and play in front of full houses for every home game, but then so do Newcastle United, and it didn’t help them to avoid relegation
There seems no logical reason why English clubs would welcome the addition of two new rivals. The so called ‘big four’ have enough competition as it is, and why would those trying to catch them vote in clubs who could deny them a place in the top flight, or potentially cost them a Champions League or Europa League spot?
Rangers’ perilous financial position hardly makes them an attractive proposition and recent incidents involving a minority of Rangers and Celtic fans, in Romania and at Falkirk, do little for the image of their clubs. Then there are the issues of policing and controlling potentially thousands of fans travelling between Scotland and England every week.
If the Old Firm are determined to leave Scotland, then the only other option appears to be some form of Atlantic League. This has previously been mooted and would involve clubs from the likes of Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, with Rangers claiming this has always been their preferred option. However, there are all sorts of issues that would need to be addressed before a league of this kind could become a reality.
First and foremost, just how attractive a proposition is an Atlantic League? If TV companies are not prepared to pay big money for coverage, then it’s a non-starter. It’s debateable whether fans would be any more excited by the likes of Odense BK v Celtic, or Aik Stolkholm v Rangers, than they would be by games in their respective domestic leagues.
How Uefa would react to such a creation remains to be seen. They would need to consider how, or if, European places are allocated, and the impact on the domestic leagues left behind by the participants. That’s before they even think about promotion and relegation.
While the standard of opposition would certainly benefit the likes of Celtic and Rangers, it’s difficult to see how an Atlantic League is achievable. A midweek cup competition is a possibility, but finding dates in an already busy calendar would be a challenge.
There are those who believe that Scottish football would benefit from the departure of Celtic and Rangers, as the SPL would become more competitive. While potentially three or four teams could challenge for the title each year, what would be the standard of football? When the Old Firm go, so does any chance of a lucrative TV contract, which most Scottish clubs rely on heavily. Then there are the gate receipts from full houses when one of the Glasgow sides comes to town, bringing a large travelling support with them. Clubs would struggle without these sources of income, meaning they could not afford to pay contracts at their present levels.
It would appear that it’s time for Celtic and Rangers to accept that their futures lie in the SPL. Instead of looking for a way out, the two biggest clubs should try to actively promote what is becoming a league where, finally, there is some real competition. The days of the big two winning by 4 or 5 goals every week are a thing of the past and as it stands, Hibs and Dundee United are in touch at the top of the table. Neither will become champions this season, but the gap is closing.
While Scottish football has undoubtedly benefitted from the presence of the Old Firm over the years, Celtic and Rangers have done none too badly out of their domestic championship. They have almost guaranteed European football each year, and are able pick off the cream of opposition talent. Now, it’s time to give something back.
William, good article, I’m quite intrigued by the idea of the Atlantic league and think it should be seriously thought about. With Belgian, Dutch and Portuguese clubs on board then there could be some great fixtures. My own way of doing it would be to take the best 36 teams and put them in 2 divisions, with the domestic leagues serving as regional leagues, the winners of which could go into a play-off system to decide who gets promoted, whilst the relegated teams would go down to their respective domestic leagues.
Posted by Geoff Edwards | 10 December, 2009, 20:43Geoff, I think you make a decent proposal for how an Atlantic League could be set up. I think they would have to go the whole way and include a number of teams from each country, rather than simply focusing on the elite. As I recall, something similar was suggested a few years back. Having the Portuguese and Dutch involved would give this kind of league some extra credibility.
I would still have some concerns for the domestic leagues of the weaker nations who could be involved. At the moment, I couldn’t see any Scottish side outwith the Old Firm winning through play-offs with sides from other nations. The idea of the SPL thriving with Celtic and Rangers is nice, but I don’t think it would survive at it’s present level.
Posted by William Heaney | 10 December, 2009, 23:02You talk of the Portuguese and Dutch leagues being involved, do you think they are of a higher or lower standard than the SPL? Scottish football needs to look at the grassroots level to improve in my opinion, rather than looking at extravagant ways to improve quickly. Get back to the way things were in the 1970s when all the most talented players in the English First Division were Scottish and the Scottish leagues were prospering too.
Come on Hibs and Dundee United, keep closing that gap and bring through the younger players to make the national team great again. At last it seems the reliance on importing players has come to an end. On a Scottish football related note, has anyone seen much of Ikechi Anya at Sevilla Atletico? How is he doing?
Posted by Steve Atkinson | 17 December, 2009, 16:41Steve, at the moment I would say overall the likes of the Portuguese and Dutch leagues are of a higher standard. I think this is reflected by Scottish clubs performances in Europe this season, though I don’t think the gap is huge.
Producing their own players is the only way forward for Scottish clubs. The days of overspending on foreign players, who often weren’t any better than those who came through the ranks, are over. Celtic and Rangers now both have purpose built training facilities so have no excuses. Hibernian have produced talented players and sold them on regularly over the last 10 years, while the likes of Motherwell, Hamilton and Falkirk are known to give youngsters a chance.
Dundee United were comprehensively beaten by Rangers this week, meaning they are 7 points from the top. I can’t see United or Hibs winning the title this season, but the gap is not as great as it once was. There has been a change in attitude from the other SPL clubs towards the Old Firm. Most teams now fancy their chances at home to Celtic or Rangers, and go to Celtic Park or Ibrox with a genuine belief they can take something, rather than the damage limitation exercises of the past.
Posted by William Heaney | 17 December, 2009, 22:58That Atlantic League sounds really interesting, keeping the bigger clubs playing against each other. That migth even help some clubs to get more notoriety in Europe.
Posted by Fabricio | 18 December, 2009, 00:50I think many clubs would benefit from the standard of opposition they would face in at Atlantic League, but there are a lot of issues that would need to be resolved before it could become a reality.
Posted by William Heaney | 19 December, 2009, 07:12