Celtic apparently in secret talks to join League 1. They'd win League 1 surely and do quite well in the Championship. Not sure how that would work...some English team will lose out and extra travelling costs for a lot of southern teams.
links??? Doubt Celtic would agree to go that far down. I would suggest if it isn't PL then they would stay where they are even if the SPL is now a one team league. Celtic are a much bigger club than many people realize. They are absolutely HUGE!!!
They would make the money back in how many fans would bring to the reverse fixture. Southern team fans would love the trip to Glasgow in my opinion. Parkhead is a nice stadium, change is good.
This story has been around for years, just fresh legs after the recent financial troubles. If it did happen then of course they'll end up in the premier league eventually. It's naive to think a club of that size with English football income would not flourish. To keep the Scottish out just threaten them with there international independence. The Olympics **** them up enough
The FL might like it because of the publicity from having such a huge club in the league. I'm sure Celtic would like to be parachuted straight into the PL, but that would mean one fewer promoted from the Championship. Perhaps they think that the poor little club in League 2 that doesn't get promoted would kick up less of a stink than say Birmingham, West Ham etc. I suspect Celtic have been looking enviously at Swansea and Cardiff who have done well by being in the English rather than the Welsh league. If Celtic, what about Rangers?
Think Welsh teams are in the English league because there was no Welsh league to join at the time! Not sure a new club would be allowed to join. If Celtic join FL it should be at same level as Wimbledon et al in my opinion.
Hi guys, interested (and perpetually happy) Swans fan in peace. There was an interview with ex-football league chairman, Keith Harris, on Talksport about a month ago in which he revealed that, in his tenure as chairman, both Celtic and Rangers had agreed in principle to join the Championship (division one as it was then), and the idea had been cautiously accepted by the Championship teams as well. Apparently the deal was only scuppered at the last minute due to the details being leaked to the press. The interesting part was that he revealed the deal would have included a clause that would have stopped both Scottish clubs being allowed promotion to the Premier league for their first two seasons in the Championship, thereby removing the problem of existing Championship sides feeling hard done by through the new boys inclusion. Bearing in mind Rangers current debacle, it would not be surprising to me if Celtic opted to join the English league system, and because there has been a fanning out of quality and club stature throughout the leagues in the years since this fore-mentioned deal, League One would probably be the correct starting place for them. Yes, the travelling costs for away fans from both Celtic and opposition teams would be high, but their inclusion would also bring an increase in gate revenue and TV coverage, both of which can only be good for the football league. I shall continue to watch this situation with interest. I look forward to our games against you next season. STID.
Enjoyed seeing extended coverage of Swansea on MOTD last night. Saints have implemented a similar passing/possession style to Swansea, but have had to revert to more direct tactics in recent weeks, especially with the aerial ability of Lambert in the side. Have Swansea found it easier to play a passing game in the prem as opposed to the championship?
I have always believed the Welsh teams' situation was different because of the structuring of the leagues at that time. If Celtic and Rangers had been included back then it would have been the same for them too, but I have never felt it was right for teams to abandon their domestic leagues in order to chase the big bucks. On top of that, there's a fair chance that Scotland will be independant from the rest of Britain sometime soon. How can you have a foreign team playing in the English leagues? If that is seen as ok, then why not Ajax or some other big team playing in a small league? It shouldn't happen because it's immoral but I doubt that will be given a second thought if Celtic are considered for the English Leagues.
Hi saintlyhero, "Have Swansea found it easier to play a passing game in the prem as opposed to the championship?" That's a tough question. We have always found it easier to play teams who try and play a similar style to us, so, in that respect, as there are more teams in the Prem who try and play our way, yes, it has allowed us more time on the ball than we had in the championship, hence the improved passing statistics that we have seen this season. But, of course, the quality of the individual player in the Prem is superior (though only marginally in the majority of cases) so we have lost a number of games that we have otherwise dominated due to wonder goals (Sunderland away) or being physically oppressed by skillful/dirty "big" men (Stoke away). These losses would have almost certainly been draws last year so on that basis I cannot say that it is easier to win playing the passing game in the Prem but there is definitely a greater opportunity to try and do so. I am truly hoping that all video recordings of our recent loss at home to Norwich have been deleted as that was a faultless blueprint on how to stop our passing game and dominate. There is definitely an upper tier snobbery among the bigger clubs. They probably do not even realise that it exists but I believe that the over-inflated pay packets, and pseudo-celebrity status, have created an attitude of complacency that diminishes their work rate and erodes their idea of "team". Man City were the perfect example. If they were as drilled in the passing game as we were, we would have stood no hope, but their complacency and reliance on individual brilliance allowed us to pass them off the pitch at times. Therefore, and I apologise for not being more educated on Southampton's style of play, if you play with real patience, true passing technique and team spirit, you will undoubtedly upset a few of the "big boys" and probably survive comfortably. Football is about percentages. By keeping possession and passing the ball, you are attempting to remove the element of luck and increase your percentage of the game as a whole. Playing hoofball, on the other hand, like half the teams in the Prem, is about relying on luck to help you out; sometimes it will and sometimes it won't but if you don't have possession of the football, the luck should inevitably turn against you over 90 minutes. This notion should instill all you Saints fans with plenty of confidence for next year. Enjoy your promotion.
Fantastic post. I have loved watching Swansea play this season, the way they keep winning and causing upsets is a beacon for us to look up to. Your post has pretty much summed up our Nigel Adkins exact philosophy and tactics as well, so if we do make it up, expect to see another team that likes to play football, with a cracking team spirit and no egos. Good luck for the rest of the season! Fingers crossed we will see you next season!
Celtic should not be allowed in, completely unfair for other teams, that is the biggest problem with it. There is no fair way to get them in the English league apart from putting them right at the bottom.
Thank you for posting. That's exactly as I stated just a few days after a very interesting [amazingly] Talksport interview on the Keys and Gray show. Clearly, judging by the response here, quite a few people don't bother to read posts. I won't bother to be as informative in the future. Apart from the deal being scuppered by the early release of info to the Press, the Premier League weren't that keen on it either. One thing you didn't mention was that the rest of the Scottish League were keen to see the big two Glasgow clubs leave, in order to make their football competitive again. I also, would not be surprised if Celtic agreed to join a division as low as League One, with conditions, if it meant they would be in the English League, with eventual promotion prospects. With Rangers current plight, it seems the prudent thing to do.
Celtic would probably join in League 2 if it were to happen. The football league and premier league would not stop it due to the size of the club. Celtic are easily the second biggest club in the UK and to have them in the football league would be a massive coup. I have no doubt that if they were in the football league they would be promoted every season and within 10 years be a top 4 side, purely down to te revenue they could generate.
