Rangers could be heading for the English Conference as they rebel against SFL plans Conference clubs will next week discuss plans to invite Rangers into the fifth tier of English football. Clubs from the Blue Square Bet Premier will join lower level counterparts from the Conference North and South on Monday for a mid-season review. And chairman Brian Lees has admitted that last weekâs vow by Charles Green to flit south will be on the agenda after 18 of his member clubs expressed tentative support for the idea. Radical plan: Rangers chief executive Charles Green has proposed applying to play in the English Conference Unhappy with the proposals for a restructuring of the Scottish leagues to a 12-12-18, Green said last week: âI could join the Conference and I would be in a higher league than Iâm in. It doesnât matter to me. If the only option is to go into England and start at the lowest level I believe Rangers fans would support that.â Admitting the idea also has some support amongst his own clubs if the resistance of the footballing authorities can be navigated, Lees responded: âOn Monday we have a mid-season meeting of clubs and that could be a topic for conversation. âObviously it is up to clubs to make rule changes. But there are one or two problems. âFirst of all itâs a FIFA issue in terms of moving from one country to another. âThe second thing - and probably the most important - is the problem it would create with promotion and relegation. There would be an uneven number. Momentum: Rangers are 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division - but the proposed restructure means they wouldn't be promoted âIt would be wrong, also, if the Football League would not take Rangers if they came into the Conference as part of our promotion and relegation system. âThey would therefore be in the Conference and Iâm sure they would like the opportunity eventually to go higher in the pyramid. âThese are not insurmountable problems. But you would have to have the co-operation of a lot of different people and organisations to make it possible.â UEFA have recently sanctioned a cross border female league in Belgium and Holland, prompting Green to threaten a sex discrimination case against the governing body if they block his desire to quit Scotland. Welsh club Wrexham are currently top of the Blue Square Bet Premier, prompting Lees to adopt an open mind to the concept of Scottish clubs bolstering his competitionâs financial clout. âAny application would be judged on its merit,â he said. âWhat happens in Europe is one thing and different to what happens here. âThe Football League is involved in football in England and Wales. English tour: Rangers fans could be heading to the likes of Luton, Mansfield and Grimsby if they move to the Conference âSo there is a precedent there. And Berwick Rangers play football in Scotland, so there is another precedent. â(Rangers) fans are also an attraction in a way, because of the higher level of football and facilities and so on. âLast weekend, for example, Rangers had 44,000 and there were a few hundred at the other games. âBut at our grounds, of course, you have an average of around 6000.â The cost of travel for non-league clubs could be a potential drawback, while police authorities would also have a say. Suggesting Rangers themselves could help to ease the path to agreement should they wish to apply, however, Lees added: âGuernsey play in England and they cover the costs of the travel for their opponents. âSo itâs not insurmountable, but itâs a case of where there is a will there is a way. âIt is exciting, but we have promotion and relegation and the opportunities which might be denied could be a problem.
absolute bollocks, I wish this idea would just die!! we are a Scottish team who will always play in Scotland. And another thing!! Chuck saying the Conference is a better standard than the Scottish Third Division was very disrespectfull!!
Would Rangers fans back this? Starting again, this time in the 5th tier of English football... How long/much money would it takeeto even get to the Championship?
Wouldn't the teams from the conference North and South have something to say about this - and wouldn't the conference teams looking at promotion next year be Turkeys voting for Christmas?
I certainly wouldn't want it Pud. I would echo Benny's sentiments about our Scottish identity. I also agree with Mick. Why would these clubs want us down there? English clubs don't need the money in the same way that our lower league clubs do. I don't think either Rangers or Celtic will end up in England. If they did I would imagine by the time they work their individual ways up from the lower leagues they would arrive just in time to watch the EPL implode. I have thought for a long time that what is going on in English football is not financially sustainable. We have the chance just now to do something really positive for Scottish football.
Chasing the EPL "dream" costs millions...not worth it! Look at Bolton - £60m in debt! WTF for, mid table medicority then relegation!!
Moses McNeill we had a chance last summer to do something positive for Scottish Football and all that was required was that the SPL and the SFL to apply the rules Fairly and squarely . Any new club applying to join SFL had to have three years audited accounts, that would mean that it would be summer of2015 before Sevco We're eligible to apply to join. That would have given the SPL and the SFL time And space to ensure everything was right and above board. The new club could Proudly hold its head high and say we did wrong, and we did the time and Scottish Football would grow by leaps and bounds. No what happened Green cuddled up to Campbell ( a receiver of funny money) and Doncaster and they thought they could jump Rangers into SPL . The fans said no And in general the fans thought they were sold a pup ,your lot getting into 4th tier.
I don't think we will, all the money is in the Premier League and so the owners of our club will continuously press to get into it. I don't think clubs would lose their Scottish identity if they did play, look at Swansea and Cardiff. I'm sure it will happen but I'm guessing that it will be at the request of Sky in perhaps a few years time. I would myself. Sure it would take years to progress and cost quite a bit of money but Scottish football is going downhill. You could say that but then think of the money they could make, a lot of the SFL3 teams seem to be happy enough Rangers are in the league. A 3 litre bottle of cider.
A Space was created by Rangers Liquidation meaning no third division team were demoted to the non leagues. If Rangers were to try and get in the conference someone would have to be demoted or someone who automatically due to join the league after a promotion from a lower league would lose their place All SFL 3 teams had nothing to lose and all to gain by rangers spending a year in their division Some conference teams (and teams below in lower leagues) would have something to lose They may also prefer the chance to compete themselves over the appeal of money And even if they do prefer the money - who will pay it? Can Rangers honestly afford to pay off teams now for a place in england, and then build a squad good enough year on year on the chance they may get to the riches of the EPL in 5 or more years? You are talking investing tens of millions of pounds now.....and money is no guarantee of success....look at QPR Rangers dont have a sugar daddy who is willing to risk losing £100m if it doesnt work
Well who knows how they could work it but I think it could be done. Truthfully it wouldn't or shouldn't cost that much money to compete in the lower leagues. With a good youth system, a few seasoned pros and good crowd coming every other week then they could move up the leagues without spending ****loads. It's when you get to the Championship that you have to start spending cash and then of course tens of millions when in the Premiership. But then again you get something ****in silly like £90m for promotion into the premier league.
I am aware of slow learners but if in the type of school you went to had pupils my age, then It would appear your schools really are responsible for the old bollicks that follow Charlie.
