Two Tier Premier League In England?

[paraffin]

I've heard that the Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, has made some proposal to this effect, and that he would like to see Scotland's Old Firm, Celtic and Rangers, invited to join the second tier initially. Anyone aware of this?

Is this a viable suggestion and one that could be brought to fruition? And bearing in mind that there are already Welsh teams which play in English leagues, would it make much difference to invite two of the biggest names in world football to join, thereby perhaps enhancing and enriching the game in England?

I'm fully expecting to be reminded of the rioting by Rangers fans in Manchester last year at the UEFA Cup final.
But do try to be sensible and constructive.

[No,Knowledge]

i didn't know you was Scottish.

[craft1948]

travelling expenses/time would be rather prohibitive for both players and supporters.....

[paraffin]

NoKno:

I haven't said what I am, have I ? And what does it matter?

[No,Knowledge]

Celtic and Rangers need the premier league, the premier do not need Celtic and Rangers

[Rollo]

If they were to join the lower tier of a new Premier League they would not be eligible for the Champions League. They would not want that.

What would happen to one of these two Scottish clubs when they got relegated from the lower tier Premier League?

The Scottish Premier League would not want them back.

Would they be forced into the Championship? What would the Football League say about that I wonder.

[paraffin]

NoKno:

I totally agree - they're better off where they are.

Rollo:

By the same token, what if, say, Cardiff and Swansea plummeted down to the 2nd Div and then were relegated? Where would they go? Blue Square Premier or the Welsh equivalent? No difference that I can see.

[Rollo]

Indeed. I don't know those answers.

My point is that the whole idea is fraught with problems.

[No,Knowledge]

The compensation other clubs would require would put a stop to any ideas ANYONE had about them joining the Premier.

the only feasible way would for them to start a team in the lowest of the English league system(if allowed to have 2 teams ). that would allow them to progress to the prem. ..............Eventually .

[paraffin]

Can't see it happening full stop, for the simple reason that the majority of English Clubs realise that, forget the travel issues etc, Celtic and Rangers have the potential, if ever given the chance, to eventually rival the best that England have to offer.

For example, how many English Clubs can rival the worldwide fanbases of these two Scottish teams, not to mention the fact that their home games are sell outs (60,000 + 50,000 respectively). Only a few Clubs south of the border can compete, Man Utd obviously.

And that's why in a nutshell it will never come to fruition.

[Rollo]

Fab base is irrelevant. Those two clubs would not survive in the Premier League, because their teams are not good enough.

They are Championship standard.

[paraffin]

rollo:

So exactly how many games involving Celtic or Rangers have you seen, say over the past 10 years? I'm not referring to the odd clip here and there? Full games?

I've seen numerous games in Britain over many years to realise that when you take a few teams out of the equation, Man Utd/ Chelsea/Liverpool/Arsenal, the rest in the Premiership are merely making up the numbers.

And regarding fan base, tell the likes of Fulham, Wigan, Bolton, Stoke, Middlesborough, West Brom, West Ham, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Hull, and the whole of the Championship that it doesn't matter. They'd all bite your arm off to have the amount of supporters Celtic and Rangers get through their turnstiles.

[DSnewsKE]

Rollo, I watched Everton struggle for two hours on Sunday trying to beat a Man Utd reserve team.
Are you saying Celtic and Rangers couldn't compete with that?

[Haggisdj]

What would be the implications regarding the respective Football Associations?

Would this be the start of a British league?

I can't see this ever happening.

[BilluSugger]

Never happen .

[oldhamfan]

"By the same token, what if, say, Cardiff and Swansea plummeted down to the 2nd Div and then were relegated? Where would they go? Blue Square Premier or the Welsh equivalent? No difference that I can see."

Don't forget Wrexham who have already suffered this and are currently playing in the Blue Square Premier (Conference National).

[No,Knowledge]

just like i said , i didn't know you were Scottish!

[mark01]

parafin - so how many teams will make up tier 1 and tier 2 of the 'new' premiership and why would the chirman of bolton want to put this forward?

[paraffin]

mark:

Unfortunately I'm hopeless at tagging on links(sorry!). But if I could please refer you to the following, it will give you the story which has broken in the Scottish press:

If you log onto "daily record" which is a Scottish newspaper, you will see a further link to the "Old Firm" , i.e. Celtic and Rangers: Both Clubs have reports about this matter, the Celtic one mentions Phil Gartside, and the Rangers one quotes the Preston Chairman Derek Shaw.

It will tell you their rationale behind it. Cheers.

[mightyWBA]

The way I see it is that the vast majority of revenue within the game is given by satellite TV.
Eventually there will be a European super league involving Europes most attractive clubs in terms of viewer interest.
We can all come up with 16 clubs and 10 will be the same.
Rangers and Celtic would definately be in it on the strength of interest they would create,their current squads are irrelevant as once in the super league the quality of player they would attract would increase.
Supporters in financial terms are a small part of a clubs income at this level.e.g if a club played 20 home games with an average gate of 50000 at �20 a ticket,the seasons income would be �20 million,or �10 million less than buying one Berbatov!
Off to bed my heads hurting!