Talk of bringing the Old Firm (Glasgow and Celtic) south is not new. The possibility has surfaced several times over the last ten years, usually as a result of Scottish clubs wanting a slice of the lucrative EPL pie. On Thursday, Bolton Wanderers Chairman Phil Gartside put before the “shareholders” of the English Premier League the latest proposal to expand the EPL and bring in the Old Firm.
Gartside’s proposed a two-tier Premiership, each tier containing 18 or 20 teams, with Celtic and Glasgow brought in to the second tier. Such a system, Gartside argued, would lead to a fairer distribution of the huge bounty brought to the EPL in the form of global television revenues. It would also ease the financial burden on teams falling out of the top flight.
As expected, the EPL brass rejected the proposition as neither ‘desirable nor viable’, however it did get the support of six EPL clubs. In addition, several EPL managers (including Harry Redknapp and Martin O’Neil) voiced their ‘support’ (or, perhaps, stated that they did not oppose such ideas) in the press this week.
Has the time come to take these proposals seriously?
Glasgow and Celtic have made no secret of their desire to move beyond the SPL, with a move to the EPL or possibly a new Atlantic League still on the cards. Both command large fan bases in the UK and worldwide, some say second only to Manchester United in the UK, and would therefore bring extra gate monies to the EPL, and extra subscriptions for TV broadcasters which would benefit many of the current smaller EPL clubs (such as Bolton). This is clearly an aspect the Premier League, as a financial entity, cannot ignore for too much longer.
However, at the moment, the Premier League is doing very nicely indeed for itself with increasing global interest and lucrative TV deals. Consequently, there is little incentive for the majority of clubs firmly rooted in the Premiership to want to dilute their revenues.
Bringing the Old Firm in to the Premiership will upset traditionalists who see the league as a purely English concern and, broadly, kept as it was when first established in 1992.
Sentiment among fans north of the border seems to be that starting out in the lower tier of a two-tier expanded Premiership simply delays the inevitability of Celtic and Rangers being in the top half of a newly formed league. Many Old Firm faithful make the point that with increased revenues, Glasgow and Celtic will build teams comparable to the Big Four within 5 years and be competing at the top of the Premiership. This threat to English dominance and the established big four clubs, they say, also influences decisions.
It might not be until the success of the Premier League wanes a little that we do finally see the Old Firm on board. But it remains a strong possibility for the future and one that will increase the excitement and competitiveness of the Premier League.
If it does happen, what would the new league be called? The UK Premiership? The British Premiership?
Further more, if they joined the league it would be at some current clubs expense…..is that fair?