Should Celtic and Rangers just join the English Premier League?

[CaptainCharisma]

there was some talk about them starting from League 1 to work their way up, we all know that they have a long traditon but we all know the SPL is a joke, if Welsh clubs could play in the English system why not the two Scottish giants

or would a 22 or 24 club league be feasible? I would enjoy it definitely, I think the league overall has good balance, I'd love to see some sides in the Championship play in the top flight

your thoughts guys?

[tsong_go]

A 22 or 24 club league for the premiership isn't feasible. The English FA have 2 domestic cups already, and the current set-up of 20 clubs is giving top clubs headache regarding fixture congestions when they have a CL/EL fixture smacked in between regular matchdays.

And I think membership in the top flight should be based not on sentimentalism and "history/tradition", but on performances and promotions from the lower leagues.

[LOLOLOLOL]

could they bump two more teams to relegation and then bring celtic and rangers to the premier league?

[tsong_go]

@goj:

They probably could, but I think that would be a very condescending thing to do. Clubs on the top flight are there on their own merit, after all.

[LOLOLOLOL]

yeah but would they rather see wigan, qpr, wolves, blackburn rather than celtic and rangers?

[LOLOLOLOL]

and i agree. someone between the carling cup and the fa has to go. preferably the carling cup. i don't think they take it seriously anyway.

[tsong_go]

^ @goj:

Hmm. I personally think it would be very unfair, really unfair, if the glasgow clubs would be given VIP tickets for the greatest show on earth(ahem, which is the prem lol), especially for fans of clubs like Soton, West Ham, Leeds and Forest.

I disagree with the idea of disposing noncompetitive/"small" clubs to accommodate the "more historical" clubs. A lot of clubs have tasted relegation, like United, City, Newcastle, Valencia, etc that came back and are now successful. Wolves, in fact, was a very "big" club back in the 1920s.

We should also give this same chance to other clubs so they can play in the prem, and to let them make their own name. But if we nonchalantly dispose of "smaller" clubs, then we are denying them a chance to write their own history. History, which a lot of bandwagoning elitists like to wag at everybody's faces.

And yeah, they can do away with the Carling Cup, because it was the latest to be introduced to increase revenue from TV rights(and more trophies, yay). But winning a treble will be harder than before.

[LOLOLOLOL]

History, which a lot of bandwagoning elitists like to wag at everybody's faces.

lol you just smashed tellracs_eiram in the face

anyway, i was thinking if they could throw rangers and celtic in the npower championship playoff so it's fair game. however, i have not yet concocted a system in which that works.

[tsong_go]

Haha the second division is fair enough. Ilan ba sila doon ngayon, 24 yata? OK lang yan! Basta kapag napromote sila wag nilang dalhin yung hooliganism nila.

[duriancoffee]

Pulitika ang magiging problema nito.

If you remember, mainit ang dugo ng mga parliament members ng SNP who supported the Scottish FA sa plano noon ng English FA of integrating the top-flight leagues ng Scotland, Wales at Northern Ireland into their system noon panahon ng then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Di katanggap-tanggap ng mga Scottish MPs noon dahil maaring lulugi sila at sa tingin nila mawawala yung kalayaan nilang gumawa ng sariling league system. Yes, magkaribal ang Rangers at Celtic internally sa Glasgow politics wise (Rangers is left-wing, Celtic is right-wing), but they all share the same thoughts as those in Edinburgh of making Scotland autonomous from England.

[duriancoffee]

Rangers was actually offered to have a place in the English system after na-declare sila na bangkarote on Feb 14 this year, dahil mag-offer daw ang mga kakampi ni Gordon Brown ng bailout plan. Pero, it's very likely na tatanggihan ang offer dahil maaring magkagulo ng mga fans na supporters of the SNP.

[CaptainCharisma]

I looked up on some news about this, I think it would be best if they start in League 1, move their way up top to prove they belong, it might seem a big dropdown at first but if they reach the EPL it would be a big long run payoff

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/03...d-they-finish/

Neil Lennon has responded to reports linking Celtic with a move to League One by claiming they could hold their own in the Premier League.

The club, along with Old Firm rivals Rangers, have long been linked with a move South of the Border, something which has stumbled due to the fierce opposition they have faced.

But after new reports suggested Celtic could attempt to leave the SPL for League One where they would fight their way up through the English League system, Lennon has insisted they are more than good enough to cut the mustard in the English top-flight.

“People keep saying the EPL is so far ahead – and in some respects it is but Celtic could play there and do all right,” Lennon said.
“I don’t know where we would finish but I don’t think we would get relegated.
“But it is not just about quality – with our prestige, support, tradition and history, I think Celtic would add something extra to England’s top flight.”

Another old debate was rehashed in the Daily Mail, where Wigan chairman David Whelan has come out and told Old Firm clubs Celtic and Rangers to forget about ever joining the Premier League.

Rangers, in particular, are in dire financial trouble at the moment and could be forced into administration if they lose a HMRC tax case in November.

According to the Mail, new Rangers chairman Craig Whyte is "working behind the scenes" to see if his club could move into the English structure or into a previously mooted "Atlantic League" involving other top heavy leagues such as Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands.

However, Whelan said Whyte is "living on a wing and a prayer" if he thinks the Premier League would consider allowing Rangers and Celtic into their league.

"I think the new owner of Rangers has to get real and face facts - his club plays in the Scottish Premier League. That is where they are based," said Whelan.

"Trust me, Rangers and Celtic will never get into England. I am not saying it isn’t a good idea for the OId Firm or for British football. I am saying it is not a good idea for English football. Our clubs would fight it tooth and nail.

"I have sat in on these votes within the English Premier League and there is next to no support (for Rangers or Celtic joining). Clubs here will not vote to give them access.

"I suppose maybe for the top one or two in the Premiership, it might be worthwhile.

"Manchester United might fancy playing Celtic and Chelsea might want to play Rangers now and again - but there is overwhelming opposition elsewhere."

[LOLOLOLOL]

i think celtic and rangers are going to cakewalk league 1, will meet challenges in the championship but will eventually make it to the premiership.

my earlier suggestion was to throw them with the championship playoff for those fighting for the last promotion spot. instead of one, make it last two promotion slots so it's fair game. basically the premiership is going to be relegating four teams...

[TheRealCitizen]

If you think there's a possibility that this will happen, then you're f*cking retarded.

[nwfirstranger]

They are only good for the championship.

[robertbrian23]

EPL has 22 teams before.. back in the early-mid 90's if you remember.
then four teams got relegated and 2 were promoted. that is the year where there are two many games at the top level and english teams wanted to compete more in the european competitions but the european cup is not yet the top four team finish who would go to UCL.

anyway back to the celts and rangers, since we are non-british we just wanted it to happen. but english fa and scottish fa are two different authorities and won't push on it.
never in any lifetime the english clubs would vote for these two scottish clubs to join. they would start from bottom of the english tier system not on league 1 if they english clubs wanted them.

english clubs won't vote to add clubs that would try to get their spot on the EPL income.

even to me, celtics and rangers would only pass thru championship the hard way and they won't be even near to the english top 6. they are just around mid level epl club to bottom level clubs. hard to imagine for celtic and rangers players to stay with those clubs if they would start from the bottom tier in the english football pyramid.

[krdskrm]

Eto lang ang masasabi ko sa issue na 'to.

[futbolerole]

Pulitika ang magiging problema nito.

If you remember, mainit ang dugo ng mga parliament members ng SNP who supported the Scottish FA sa plano noon ng English FA of integrating the top-flight leagues ng Scotland, Wales at Northern Ireland into their system noon panahon ng then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Di katanggap-tanggap ng mga Scottish MPs noon dahil maaring lulugi sila at sa tingin nila mawawala yung kalayaan nilang gumawa ng sariling league system. Yes, magkaribal ang Rangers at Celtic internally sa Glasgow politics wise (Rangers is left-wing, Celtic is right-wing), but they all share the same thoughts as those in Edinburgh of making Scotland autonomous from England.

and also the Sectarian violence that is evident in every Old Firm match...Protestant-Unionist ang Rangers while Irish/Separatist-Catholic ang Celtic

[nuss]

spl... the poor man's la liga.

[PinoySaNorwich]

This issue is being debated for years by clubs, fans, football associations and even politicians from both England and Scotland.

I don't think it will ever happen because of too many points of disagrement to be overcome among all stakeholders. More so now that Rangers is under administration and just been handed by Scottish FA with a 12-month transfer embargo.