Division One prepares to welcome newco
On Saturday details of an SFA plan to merge the SPL and SFL emerged just seven weeks ahead of the new season.
SPL clubs met at Hampden on Monday to discuss the liquidation of Rangers and will meet again on July 4 to vote on an application from Charlie Green’s newco for SPL membership.
With all clubs under pressure from supporters to say no to the newco the need for a plan B has become obvious with the creation of SPL 2 alongwith other radical changes helping to soften the blow of a season with only one Glasgow club in the top division.
Reports that Green is looking to take his newclub to England in place of Bury could backfire on the Yorkshireman at a time when Scottish football is bending over to accommodate a newclub at any cost to the games plunging credibility.
Current SFL rules only allow a newclub to enter Division Three but after a meeting yesterday the SFL are prepared to consider other options to include Rangers.
Longmuir revealed : “We’re right in the middle of discussing all the options and Rangers dropping into the First Division is one.
“There are other options available as well but we’re just trying to do what is best for Scottish football.
“We’re not ruling anything out at the moment and there’s a lot of work to be done before anything can be agreed on.
“I think we looked at every option that was available to benefit the game and the Rangers issue was one of them.”
Warming to the idea David Beattie of Partick Thistle added: “It’s all about the detail, it’s about dealing with sporting integrity as well as commercialisation. Let’s be honest, commercialisation doesn’t work in Scottish football without Rangers.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]
“Sky Sports, other TV companies and sponsors need to have Rangers and Celtic vying with each other. That’s a blunt fact of what generates the most income for
“Scottish football but the sporting integrity issue requires punishment to Rangers.
“I can see how it would work if they were demoted a division. All that is effectively being done is that there is a tinkering with the structure.”
Taking things a few steps further Cowdenbeath are floating the idea of two visits from Rangers to sell season tickets!
Donald Findlay’s assistant chairman John Lints said: “The current educated speculation is that the newco Rangers may be relegated to SFL First Division where they would of course meet Cowdenbeath.
“This would mean potentially two all ticket full houses against Rangers. We are also hoping for close to full houses against Dunfermline. Accordingly supportrs should now snap up the remaining earlybird season tickets currently available.”
CLICK HERE for Green denies McCulloch claims
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube