Leggo - rangers face long term threat from spl

[ian1964 10,707]

THE ramifications for Scottish football will be long and difficult, depending on what action the Scottish Premier League takes against Rangers should the Ibrox club lose its tax case.

 

That is something others should examine and think about long and hard before they urge hammering Rangers with the sort of sanctions which would ensure they could not challenge for the title, never mind actually win it, for many years.

 

It is now a matter of debate as to whether Rangers, should they lose the case, could escape with going into administration. The threat of an even more deadly scenario, that of liquidation, looms on a dark and dangerous horizon.

 

And the vultures are hovering, with the wolves baying in the night, ready to scavenge on the bones of what they may believe to be the carcass of Rangers.

 

Celtic, as anyone with half a brain would guess, will no doubt be applying much thought as to the best way the Parkhead club should act should the worst come to the worst for Rangers.

 

It is something which must take up a great deal of Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwellâ??s time and thoughts as he ponders the best way for the Parkhead club to take advantage of any Ibrox misfortune.

 

Should he, for instance, agree that any SPL sanction of a points deduction, be applied to Rangers for only one season, and campaign accordingly with other clubs where he may hold influence?

 

Or, should Lawwell throw his weight and Celticâ??s influence behind what many might see as a vindictive campaign and lobby for Rangers to be hammered with a points deduction which would render Rangers impotent for four years?

 

He may feel he would have support from other clubs who would believe themselves capable of finishing as runners up to a Celtic side given a free run to the championship.

 

Dundee United, who meet Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Sunday, could be one such club. They could be swayed to favour such an argument. As, perhaps, could Hibernian. And Aberdeen too.

 

And who knows which way Hearts would jump.

 

Others, whose finances are less assured, and whose ambitions at best aim towards a top six finish, but which more realistically encompass merely staying in the top flight, would surely take another view.

 

If events were to overtake them and they were forced into similar circumstances to the ones which threaten Rangers, then a points deduction would relegate them. And a repeated points deduction not only take away any chance of promotion, but create the real threat of a second successive relegation to the Second Division and long term exile.

 

That is why clubs such as St Mirren, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Inverness Caley and Kilmarnock must ponder long and hard on such prospective dangers to their own clubsâ?? future should they be called upon to vote on just how severe and long term any sanctions the Scottish Premier League may take against Rangers should be.

 

They will also consider the drop in revenue from visiting Rangers supporters, who would be less likely to follow on if their teamâ??s championship chances were fatally damaged from the kick off by long term punitive points deductions.

 

The Sky-ESPN television deal, essential to the survival of all SPL clubs outside of the Old Firm, is another consideration. Take Rangers out of the championship chase equation for more than one season and the TV moguls would be throwing good money after bad by renewing their contract with the SPL.

 

On top of all that, Rangers owner, Craig Whyte, who is already aware of talks that are going on between some clubs, would know just who voted for what.

 

These are long term considerations for Celticâ??s well being which Peter Lawwell would do well to weigh carefully, setting aside all feelings of the bias and bitterness which can often cloud judgement when the Old Firm rivalry is considered.

 

As Sammy Cahn wrote and Frank Sinatra sangâ?¦..â?You canâ??t have one without the other.â?

 

â?¦.ANDâ?¦

 

TOMORROWâ?¦..Just who is preparing to launch a campaign against any newspaper which gives house room to Odious Creep? And why?

 

You'll be surprised.

 

Find out!

 

HERE!

 

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

[54andcounting 0]

I would imagine ALL SPL clubs including Celtic wouldn't want to see Rangers relegated, but in saying that, club owners in the lower leagues might be rubbing their hands in anticipation at the idea.