Premier League Chief Denies Old Firm from Joining League

Richard Scudamore, Premier League chief executive, has indicated his belief that Celtic and Rangers will never be allowed to join the English top flight. 

Suggestions the Old Firm clubs will attempt to leave the Scottish Premier League have surfaced again following Rangers going into administration.

There have also been reports Celtic wanted to join the football league in which Football League chairman Greg Clarke denied.

One idea would be that Rangers could re-form as a new club and play in England but Scudamore insisted he could not see it happening – and the Old Firm in England’s top flight would go against Premier League regulations.

Scudamore said: “Our rules are simple. It says we’re a league formed for clubs that play in England and Wales.

“I don’t see that ever changing. I don’t see that changing on my watch, not that my watch may last for long.

“There’s more in it for them than there is for us.”

In 2009 Premier League clubs voted vehemently against allowing the Old Firm clubs into a two-tier Premier League as part of a proposal put forward by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

Celtic and Rangers are attracted to the Premier League due to the financial gains they will receive, even the bottom club in the Premier League earns several times more in television money than the two Old Firm clubs.

by Ismail Uddin