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22/04/06
by Niall Celtic and Rangers meet this weekend in the SPL with the title already at Parkhead, but Rangers are still chasing second place. We all know the Glasgow story. One of the most famous and tense derbies in world soccer – between the two teams who have dominated Scotland for what seems like an eternity. We have to go back to the 1984-85 season to see when the SPL last left Glasgow; Aberdeen clinching it that year. This again raises the question; should the Old Firm move south of the border? Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond has said in the past: “I think in the next three or four years we’ll see Celtic and Rangers in the Premiership. I think the market will dictate that they want a more competitive Premier League and it’s obvious that Celtic and Rangers should be invited to be part of that.” There are many people that agree with this sentiment and they have a strong case. Big fish in a small pond. Everyone knows that the two teams are head and shoulders above anything in Scotland. Celtic strolled to yet another title recently, whilst Rangers were somewhat unfortunate to go out of the Champions League Second Round to Villarreal on away goals. The Green and the Blue are not tested enough in Scotland so therefore they are not strong enough to progress further in Europe. The Old Firm derbies are the only domestic games that either team would be consistently challenged in. From a footballing sense it seems to make sense. The top teams need to be tested more frequently and the other Scottish teams need to be able to challenge for the Scottish Premier League. A marketing view. This seems appropriate as well. Both teams are well supported – Celtic have massive support across the Irish Sea, whilst Rangers have a strong English base. Celtic’s average attendance so far this season is 58,618, meanwhile in the other side of Glasgow they aren’t doing too bad either with 49,214. Considering there are rather unappealing matches against Livingston and co, that is quite impressive. With Wigan and Middlesborough failing to draw full houses, the appeal factor would not be a problem, with every match a guaranteed sell out. Two traditional teams with very strong histories. Expose them to a bigger audience and watch their fan-base grow even bigger. They would surely become cult heroes of the Premiership, everyone’s second team. Shirt sales increase, bigger financial gains for good positions in the Premiership, better European chances and players will come to them who would rather play for Celtic against Liverpool than Celtic against Motherwell. But surely it is too much to ask UEFA and FIFA to bend the rules? Sure Swansea and Cardiff play in England and you let them cheeky Scousers defend their European Cup even though they didn’t qualify, surely you can not deny us passionate fans the chance to show our strengths in a greater league because of rules and regulations? Loopholes can always be found or rules bended. But is it such an obvious answer for the two to swap allegiance? There is a common belief that if Celtic and Rangers came south, they may not push Chelsea or Man United, but the likes of Liverpool and Bolton may watch their backs. Personally I don’t know where this is coming from. Passionate fans can only get you so far. Both teams have substandard squads and within three years at least one, most likely Rangers, would be relegated. Take for example Alan Thompson. He was one of Scotland’s best players for years. Pressure was put on him to get an England call up and when he did he embarrassed himself. At this stage I would even say that Boyd of Rangers and Maloney of their rivals wouldn’t impress in England. Also their inclusion would bring another problem to the Premier League, which at the moment it is free from, and that is sectarianism. Sadly Old Firm goes hand in hand with violence. Sectarian chants, brawls, arrests and trouble are expected at these games. The Catholic and Protestant divide is all too obvious and often places like mixed cities in Northern Ireland regularly suffer violence after Old Firm games. Is this an image the FA wants? Campaigns and strategies can be launched to counter these problems, but it may never be totally stamped out. Also is it fair for teams like Portsmouth or even London teams to ask their fans to travel journeys which would be touching near 10 hours via bus. Geographically it may be unacceptable but with fans prepared to follow their teams to the extremes of Europe this is a problem which may be over looked. Reports have suggested that Premiership clubs voted 20 - 0 in 2004 to reject the Old Firm's admission to the Premiership. If I had my vote it would be 21 – 0. --------------------------- "I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league." Mark Viduka |