ian1964 10,761 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Rangers manager Mark Warburton believes that the Scottish senior game must be restructured in order to improve the quality of the product and its value to broadcasters. He argues that an extended top tier is essential to abolish the tedium of clubs meeting each other four times each season in the league and, often, again in cup competitions. Neil Doncaster, the chief executive of the SPFL, has always maintained that an extended Premiership would be commercial suicide and, indeed, when extending a contract with media partners Sky Sports and ESPN in 2011, he revealed that the contract included a clause which guaranteed four Old Firm games per season. Of course, Rangers’ descent into administration and liquidation the following year put paid to an agreement which should never, for sporting reasons, have been entertained in the first place. However, even though he accepts that the commercial reasoning behind it remains sound (Celtic v Rangers remains the easiest fixture to sell at home and abroad), Warburton argues that the SPFL should be prepared to take a financial hit for the good of the game. Even though Rangers, who travel to Greenock to face Morton at lunchtime, lost at home to St Johnstone in midweek, the former Brentford boss points out that other League Cup results prove that a bigger elite division need not mean a less competitive environment. “I think that’s a solution,” said the former City trader. “In terms of the bigger debate, we must get investment into Scottish football. “I’m sure that when you look at the quality and variety of a product and what appeals, these are the obvious questions. Should we expand the league? I’m sure it’s an idea that will come up. “People have been trying to get me to eat my words [about there not being much between the top two divisions] but the fact is Aberdeen lost to Hibs and Morton beat Motherwell so hang on a second. I just think the gulf is far narrower. “We had 64 per cent possession [against St Johnstone], more shots and more on target but we were three down and gave ourselves a mountain to climb. “Credit to St Johnstone, but I’m not having it for one second that there’s this massive gulf in quality.” Rangers met arch-rivals Celtic eight times during 2011 but Warburton is convinced that kind of over-exposure damages the brand, claiming that facing the same opponents too often acts as a disincentive for fans to turn up. “I think it does,” he said. “I’m not speaking as an expert, just giving my opinion. “Playing teams that often – apart from the obvious one with the excitement of the Old Firm derby – is overkill sometimes. “In my humble opinion, I think [a 16-team top flight] would be viable.” Even (assuming Rangers win promotion this season) the loss of an extra home game against Celtic in 2016/17 is a price worth paying for Warburton. “I’m looking from a football perspective but some short-term pain for long-term gain could be a very relevant quote here,” he said. “I’m sure Rangers going away and taking 7-8,000 supporters to a game is an injection of cash which is much needed and clubs might lose that for one game but I’m sure, in the longer term, the health of Scottish football would be better. “Anyone involved in the process has to look at what’s best for Scottish football, what’s best for the long-term picture. “If it’s always about short-term fixes you’re never going to make significant progress in solving what is a problem.” Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/mark-warburton-spfl-should-extend-the-top-tier-1-3899436#ixzz3muH2W79F 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 919 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Warburton joins the common sense club. Everyone sensible knows a 16 or 18 team league would work. And 4 divisions HAS to be reduced to 2 or 3. Falkirk, Hibs, and QofS could hold their own in the top flight right now along with us so that's 16 straight away. Playing teams twice a season is more interesting for the fan, its only the money men its unappealing to. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Germinal 27 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 No question about it. But the teams in the top division would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to see the bigger picture, despite their bullshit about being community clubs, sporting integrity, etc. In fact there would probably have to be a stand off to the extent that teams in divs 2,3 and 4 would have to refuse to engage with top level teams in Cups or anything at all, and then you're looking at another split, and it all goes round again. Football in general seems to attracts total wallopers - we should know - but Scottish football really gets the creme de la creme, les boabbies par excellence ,as they say in France. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,823 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Could a separate league be created? If the 'bigger' clubs don't want change, could a league be created of the championship and league 1 (and any Premiership clubs that want to join), with European spots? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Everyone knows he is correct in what he says, but the bigger clubs cabal don't want to lose their 4 games income from us and them. What we as a club need to do is gather support from the smaller clubs to force a change. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeburner 0 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Everyone knows he is correct in what he says, but the bigger clubs cabal don't want to lose their 4 games income from us and them. What we as a club need to do is gather support from the smaller clubs to force a change. What would be in it for the smaller clubs? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeburner 0 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Could a separate league be created? If the 'bigger' clubs don't want change, could a league be created of the championship and league 1 (and any Premiership clubs that want to join), with European spots? Again,what would the smaller clubs gain?Re arranging the deck chairs No? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrahimHemdani 1 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 What would be in it for the smaller clubs? A chance to have two games against bigger clubs in a sectional league cup and a more equitable distribution of the monies available. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 6,119 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 What would be in it for the smaller clubs? Are we one of the smaller clubs? Only last week, the man who strides across Scottish football commentary like a colossus, Jim Spence opined both Aberdeen and ra Sellik are too big for Scottish football. Further, he suggested both should leave and seek the necessary competition in England. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeburner 0 Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Scotland is rife with clubs that have no ambition.They are more than happy with the status quo. A steak pie lunch and a good session of a Saturday afternoon is the limit of most of their horizons. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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