Not Workable Bhoy! (Rangers and Celtic Football Clubs Leaving Scotland)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Rangers and Celtic Football Clubs Leaving Scotland
Date:	16/02/05 (149 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Would allow Old Firm to further their European ambition, Would rejuvinate domestic football in Scotland

Disadvantages: it just isn't realistic or workable, The effect on English football would be too great

The debate as to wheteher the two biggest sides in Scottish football should join the English Premiership, always seems to crop on numerous occassions. The two Glasgow based clubs, Celtic and Rangers, have been the dominant force for as long as I can remember in Scotland. They also dominate the cup competitions year in, year out with the other sides struggling to get a look in.


The two sides regularly qualify for Champions League football, after advancing through the qualifying phases. They have struggled to make a serious impact on the competition, but Celtic have achieved a few very good decent results in recent European campaigns. They have missed out on progressing from the group stages by the narrowest of margins on a couple of occassions.


There is a certain school of thought that the reason why Scottish sides don't fare as well as they should in the Champions League, is because of the lack of competition on the domestic front. They tend to win the majority of their league and cup games, with relative ease with much in reserve. They are particularly weak on the defensive side, because the teams that they face in the Scottish league, tend to sit back and try and defend as much as possible. Therefore, the defenders aren't tested and they have a very easy ride.


The two sides have a huge following and they fill their stadiums for most matches. The atmosphere at Celtic park and at Ibrox can be electrifying at times and you won't find two sets of more passionate fans. They have the crudentials of the larger teams in the English Premiership; star players, facilities and fans. They could push a lot of the English teams and be successful in the Premiership.


The consequences for Scottish football, if Celtic and Rangers left for England, would certainly be mixed. There are a huge number of positives, some more important than others, that will come about as a result. The Old Firm dominance of the League and Cup competitions would be relieved and there would be new winners and challengers. The excitement and meaning of matches should change, as there is more to play for and the rewards more realistically attainable.


The negative impacts on Scottish football would also have to be considered. The removal of the two largest teams, would lead to a drop in attendances and television veiwing figures as a large amount of the fan base would be removed. This would then result in lower television revenue and a decrease in gate reciepts. This should improve in time, but it will be very tough to deal with at first.


The process of Rangers and Celtic being admitted into the Premier League in England, would be very difficult. It wouldn't be right, to just add the Old Firm sides into the Premiership, just like that. There would have to be a method of doing so, preferably via football, to determine their inclusion. The Premiership consists of 20 teams, adding Rangers and Celtic would make 22 and that isn't workable. Therefore, two teams would have to drop out of the League and this would have to be done in the form of a play-off or increasing the number of sides to be relegated to five.


The English clubs that may be affected by this, are likely to react angrily and possibly take the matter throught the courts. Teams in the Championship would feel agrieved as they are pushing for a place in the Premiership by footballing means, whereas the Old Firm would be allowed in automatically. The teams that have to drop out of the Premiership to make way for the new arrivals would also contest the matter. They are likely to face huge financial hardship if they are relegated and the club placed in turmoil.


In my opinion, it just wouldn't be right to allow Rangers and Celtic to join the Premiership. The only fair way of doing it, would be to allow the two sides to enter the Championship and try and gain promotion. The effect on English football would be far greater than to Scottish football. It is very unlikely that this will happen, purely for political reasons, so I think things are best left as they are.

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