How can Scottish football possibly survive.

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The spl going into administration? Wow! even the very idea of that excites me.

[pete 2,499]

The Old Firm ARE Scottish football

McGlynn's wish to ditch Celts is a joke

By ROGER HANNAH

Published: 23 hrs ago

4

 

JOHN McGLYNN reckons the SPL would be better without Celtic as well as Rangers.

 

At least if his wages are late again, he can get a part-time gig on the Edinburgh comedy circuit.

 

Itâ??s ludicrous to claim Scottish football could cope without the Old Firm.

 

Yes, the SPL title fight would be closer. It might even be tight enough that Hearts would be involved in it.

 

But what state would the top flight be in?

 

Would it be a championship worth winning or just a tainted title?

 

Two of the most glamorous games would be Aberdeen v St Mirren and Dundee United v McGlynnâ??s Hearts.

 

But when these teams met in midweek League Cup ties the crowds were pitiful. The former attracted just 7,610 to Pittodrie, the latter was watched by only 3,789 at Tannadice.

 

And to think some critics had a pop at Celts when 14,000 turned up for the St Johnstone tie on Tuesday.

 

At least the SPL champions can guarantee a 60,000 sell-out for Barcelona this week.

 

Could the rest be sure of bigger attendances if Celts werenâ??t there?

 

Most clubs long for the travelling support which follows the Old Firm.

 

When Gers were late paying Dunfermline for their East End Park ticket allocation last term, the Pars couldnâ??t pay the wages.

 

Cashflow would be even worse with no Celts in the top flight.

 

TV deals would be downgraded, so too commercial agreements.

 

With less money coming in, McGlynn and Co might have to wait even longer for their salaries to land in the bank.

 

Quite simply, Celts and Gers ARE Scottish football.

 

Removing them from the landscape wouldnâ??t breath fresh life into the game.

 

It would be like Spain without Barca and Real Madrid.

 

Like Germany without Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

 

Like England without Manchester United and Chelsea. Even a title win in a league minus the Old Firm would be devalued simply by the absence of the big two.

 

And where does McGlynn expect Celts to go?

 

The only viable option would be the English Premier League. But how much would TV companies pay for the SPL if they could beam Celtic v Liverpool into Scottish homes?

 

Hearts and Co ARE coping without Gers this term. The Armageddon predictions of Stewart Regan and Neil Doncaster have proved false prophecies.

 

But trying to plough on without both halves of the Old Firm would be too much.

 

The only reason Celts have charged clear of the chasing pack this season is because there is no title race. Had Gers been breathing down their necks, theyâ??d not have dropped so many points to St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Hibs and Ross County.

 

They know the championship is destined for Parkhead and realise they can take their foot off the gas before and after Champions League games.

 

The challenge for McGlynn and others is to try and grab second, and maybe give Celts the occasional bloody nose in the league or a cup.

 

Hearts could have that chance in the League Cup semis, an opportunity to repeat last seasonâ??s win in the Scottish Cup last four.

 

That set up a great all-capital final, the first in more than a century and one which Jambos won at a canter. Heartsâ?? response has been to slash the wage bill. A wage bill they tend not to pay in full at the appointed hour.

 

Theyâ??ve been hit with a transfer embargo and warned of other sanctions, including a potential points deduction.

 

Ian Black, David Templeton and Rudi Skacel have all moved on.

 

Black and Templeton felt they were better off in Division Three with Gers. That tells you the real significance of the Old Firm to Scottish football.

 

Celts will emphasise that point when they host Barca on Wednesday night.

 

Jambos, Saints, Motherwell and United did little to prop up the ailing coefficient this season. Again itâ??s been left to Celts to bolster it with five wins and a draw so far.

 

Gers gave it a boost by reaching a Euro final five seasons ago.

 

Even in Division Three, theyâ??re still attracting crowds of over 40,000. Itâ??s bringing much-needed revenue to the SFL.

 

Celts, meanwhile, remain the lifeblood of the SPL, with fans flocking to away grounds.

 

Theyâ??ll put a fair few quid in Vladâ??s back pocket when they visit Tynecastle later this month.

 

Itâ??s safe to assume theyâ??ll want to remind McGlynn why their team is so vital to our game.

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/4625710/The-Old-Firm-ARE-Scottish-football.html#ixzz2BIZdQdGc

 

It will be interesting to see what happens if Green pushes Sky's buttons. Remember they walked away before.

[RANGERRAB 3,387]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Green pushes Sky's buttons. Remember they walked away before.

 

very good point. Rhegan & Dungcaster know this only too well. It's the SP hell chairman who don't seem to get this. SKY is not a national broadcaster but a subscription service. It'll broadcast whatever it thinks it'll get the highest viewing figures for - and the SPL figures have been in freefall this season without us.