'Earn the right': What Rangers and Celtic should have to do to join a 'British League', according to Sir Kenny Dalglish
The subject has been revisited again this week in light of the failed formation of a European Super League by 12 breakaway clubs.
While the ESL failed and all six English clubs in the mix withdrew their interest in the new competition, midweek reports revealed talks on a Plan B to reform league football in Britain, and a possible invitation to both Glasgow clubs to compete.
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Hide AdLiverpool director Dalglish, Scotland’s record goalscorer and a former Celtic player and manager, believes the two would be a positive addition among the best the Premier League can offer – but believes they should be made to work for their place at the top table and all the financial rewards a move could bring.
“I think the Old Firm would do really well in it. Given the same financial resources as many of the other clubs, I believe they’d comfortably be in the top half of any British league every season. They both have brilliant fan bases, and they would be successful,” Dalglish wrote in his Sunday Post column.
“But I do think they’d need to compete to get the rewards. I’m not sure about parachuting them straight into the English Premier League, or the Championship.
“Surely there would need to be a due process? Surely, they’d need to start in League Two, and work their way up through the divisions?
“People will rightly ask if that is not a contradiction of what was proposed in the setting-up of the ESL?
“Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way, I believe all clubs need to earn the right to success.”
Neither club has commented on the proposals, however Celtic major shareholder Dermot Desmond is believed to be in favour of the idea.
Last autumn he was said to have withdrawn the Parkhead club from an Atlantic League proposal and predicted the set-up of a cross-border competition.
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Hide AdThe plans came to light as part of ‘Project Big Picture’ think-tank led by major football clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool which also included the creation of the failed European Super League proposal.