I believe that over the next 3 to 5 years Celtic have a window over opportunity to gain access to the EPL. the reaction by the English media to Celtic fans at the Barca game has been immense. They were still talking about it on national radio 4 days later with many seriously discussing what we would bring to their league. Now it is no coincidence that this should happen when there is no rangers. The EPL, English public and media do not want another City centre trashed by hordes linked up to the NF of EDL. They do not want the baggage of sectarianism, consequently we may have a window of gaining access to their league by invitation, a league which is beginning to stagnate. If we got into the last 16 and drew English opponents and the fans created the same atmosphere and 15,000 or more went down to an English stadium then they may well be persuaded. If the was followed by a couple of seasons meeting English opposition in the CL, accompanied by good performances, then this may well be the best chance we have of entry to their league. UEFA? Well they may well have to accede and accept that they must follow market trends.
Not interested in Celtic playing in the EPL, never have been, never will be. Maybe that's just me though?
It will never happen , which club is going to give up 60/70 million to allow us in . Sure I heard the relegated clubs are going to be awarded even more cash !!' This week Bolton produced their accounts 136 million in debt , just incredible for a wee p!shy team .
I used to be against the idea but changed my mind after "dougie dougie" gate. I had absolutely had it with Scottish Football by then After the Arab Spring (lets not forget the 9 other honest clubs too, **** you Killie) though it no longer matters Rangers and all their cronies are either gone or are fighting amongst themselves, Celtic are dropping their European hoodoos, the league is open and young players are coming through at all clubs It's like playing Championship Manager with the "editor" on I'm quite happy with where we are right now
If the tribute act goes the way of Rangers and dies Scottish football can re-build. The English Premier League is a different beast but we won't ever be able to walk straight in.
Nope - I don't want to play in England and no amount of money or glamour would turn my head. I don't want English fans in Glasgow every fortnight, I don't want to jeopardise our national team and I want to have a Scottish League.
I used to be in favour of it just because it would have been handy to get to see Celtic.... But now i am not in London I don't care so much for it. Selfish mibbees.
I dunno. If a pyramid structure was in place for it (i.e if a team representing one country were ****e enough, the top ranking team from their native league could take their place), I might be in favour of it - it would be unfair to have the same teams in it without allowing others the chance to progress.
I doubt if we would be happy in the EPL if we ever got in. It would be ok if we were just about dragging along just above the bottom. I am not saying this solely about Celtic, but if by some miracle Sevco survives and were allowed to enter EPL too, I am certain the officials would make sure no Scottish team would ever win their precious EPL. They would take us in, if they thought we would spice up the TV deals and earn them more money, but after that we would be treated as dirt, just as Scotland as a Country is now. A producer of gas and a place to store their nuclear war-heads. We couldn't have them blasted things endangering English lives.
Celtic will never play in the EPL. Perhaps a euro league with a second side/reserves remaining in the Scottish leagues. But never the EPL, ever
Got a feeling that we will not be playing in Scotland in a decade. Things starting to move and when these things start they tend to do so quickly, even though it has taken a long time to get there. 42 prof clubs in Scotland with a 5 million population is ludicrous. Times have changed. Same in a lot of countries. I suspect we will either be in a league with the Dutch, Belgians, Danes and perhaps Portugal or be in the PL down south. Money will dictate. Already EPL clubs are losing crowds for games against Wigan etc. Man U v Celtic or Arsenal v Celtic will draw a bigger TV audience globally and if we can maintain the high profile developed this season then the money men if Sky will make it happen.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20375857 Celtic manager Neil Lennon is unconvinced by the notion of a 16-team top division in Scotland. Both of Scotland's league bodies are working on proposals for reconstruction that involves 16 sides in the top tier. "A 16-team league? I'm not sure it's going to work," Lennon told BBC Radio 5live. The Scottish Premier League, formed in 1998, was expanded from 10 teams to 12 in 2000, with Celtic the reigning champions. The Scottish Football League are proposing a three-tier system with 10 teams in the middle division. The bottom league could contain 16 or 18 sides, depending on whether second-string teams from Celtic and Rangers were included with existing league clubs. However, the SPL are also discussing expanding to 16 and are against the idea of being absorbed into the SFL. Lennon highlighted previous SPL discussions that suggested a top flight of 10 would offer the best financial package for member clubs. Rangers manager Ally McCoist McCoist feels change to Scottish football's league reconstruction is necessary "You're always looking for the variety but, having spoken to the SPL a year ago, these things come up every one or two years; restructuring, promoting the game a bit more and making it better," he said. "It's a proposal from the SFL, I've not really had a chance to digest it all yet." Rangers counterpart Ally McCoist is broadly in favour of the SFL's idea, with the Ibrox club relaunced and placed in Division Three this season following financial problems. "I actually think that looks all right," said McCoist. "The majority of people realise that something has to be done to help the Scottish game moving forward and I think the SFL proposal is certainly worth looking at. "It has to be done for the benefit of the game and all the clubs within the Scottish game. "I don't think we are going to get total agreement with all the clubs, that's for certain. "We, as a club, do welcome change because nobody has had any more change than us in the past eight months. "Anything that benefits the game, we would certainly welcome. Change, in my opinion, is required and I think it will happen." "With the SPL, SFL, SFA there are an awful lot of bodies to be honest. I don't think we are a big enough nation to require that. I would certainly like one body running the SPL and the SFL." Lennon is right, mccoist is wrong.
