Old firm eventually allowed join Premiership?

By Mad Max-im
July 24 2005

Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, believes that the Old Firm will eventually be allowed to join the Premiership. There is a possibility that this could happen...

That has been the aim of the Hoops and Glasgow rivals Rangers for a number
of years, as they seek to leave the Bank of Scotland Premiership for more
lucrative fixtures down south.

He said: "It would be good for everybody, although we would have to make
sure the rest of the Scottish league would be safe and prosper. That would
be my main concern."

Strachan added: "I lived in England for 21 years and I know that everybody,
apart from some of the teams that think they might get relegated, would love
Celtic and Rangers to be in the English League.

"I think it will happen eventually. Celtic and Rangers will get together
with the top teams in England, yes."

And the former Coventry and Southampton manager was also convinced his club
would be more than capable of holding its own.

He said: "Celtic can compare favourably with most clubs in the Premiership,
that's for sure."

Strachan has been busy trying to bolster a squad that has seen a number of
players from the Martin O'Neill era depart.

So far four new faces have been recruited and Strachan wants at least two
more with Japan international Shunsuke Nakamura, the Reggina midfielder,
still at the top of his list.

He said: "We are trying to be choosy about who we bring in. It would have
been easy to bring in loads of Bosmans who are 30 years ...."

It is not only Strachan who wants it to happen, but rival club manager, Alex McLeish, believes they should be allowed. He, however, believes it will be pressure from television could 'force' them to playing in the English Premiership...

"Rangers and Celtic are still a tremendous attraction to Europe's top players." he said. But he states it is the weakness of the Scottish Premier League that puts these players off. He claims that this would no longer be a problem if they moved into the English Premier League.

Both clubs would certainly relish to move to the Premiership. It will benefit them because the Premiership will generate more money and it will be more competitive for both clubs. It would also mean that the Scottish Premiership will benefit in a way as it will be more competitive.