Celtic can learn from Cardiff City — Stay put!
By: Ian Rose | July 29th, 2007Another day goes by and another statement from Wee Gordon Strachan about how anxious he is to get his team out of Scotland. Whether it’s to the Premiership (as an affiliated member - more on that in a second) or to a European Superleague, the Celtic coach clearly believes that the SPL is not a worthy challenge to his boys.
Well, Gordon, just be careful what you wish for - the English FA might just trick you into accepting it. Take as a warning the example of Cardiff City. With the remarkable signing of Robbie Fowler to the squad, they are a real threat for promotion this year to the Premiership, which would put them in theoretical shooting distance of European tournaments. But, here’s the trick - the FA won’t nominate a team from Wales to represent it, even if they win the spot fair and square. Cardiff City, you see, aren’t really members of the FA - they’re members of the Welsh FA allowed to play in England by way of an “affiliated membership”. English officials claim this means they can play in the Prem, but can’t represent England in Europe. UEFA disagrees, citing several examples of this exact situation - a Lichtenstein side in Switzerland, a Monaco side in France, and both have qualified and filled their host nation’s European spots. But, as it stands, the English won’t allow it.
I know those big Premiership TV dollars are shining in your eyes, Gordon, but don’t forget that another payoff, both in terms of football and cash, is the Champions League. Imagine if Celtic went to the Prem, finished in the top 6 (as they very well could), but were passed over for Europe, even for the Intertoto Cup, because of this loophole not yet having been closed.
Until this is figured out, do all your fans a favor, Celtic, and don’t even consider this. If the English FA ever allowed it, it could destroy Celtic football, not enhance it.
Category: Scottish Premier League
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Comments
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Ian, in the case of the Swiss and French Leagues, was it the case that the league officials wanted to deny the “invited” team but that UEFA overruled the league decision? or was it that the leagues themselves didn’t care one way or the other?
I don’t know the answers to those questions, but it seems to me that each league can make its own rules as to which teams are allowed to represent it in UEFA competitions.
If UEFA says that a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or whatever, place finisher is eligible for UEFA competitions, then it seems that it is up to the particular league to designate how it selects the order of those finishers.
I am a Celtic fan, and I would prefer that they play in a league whose matches are easier for me to catch (like the EPL); however, I don’t think that simply by making the move to the EPL that it would be better for Celtic. There would have to be major structural changes to make it an easier transition.
Posted from
United States
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If Celtic and Rangers do eventually join the English League they should start from League 2.
I’m a Cardiff fan (also Celtic my SPL Side) but we have had to start thing long hard road to the Premiership from the bottom of League 2.
I know a few Celtic fans will say “We get 60k Every Week”. So that doesn’t make a difference.
Also starting you guys in that League would give the league more revenue and probably you’d have sell outs where ever you travelled, which would save lowly clubs like Exeter, Hereford, Mansfield and Swansea (Hehehe had to put the last one in)
Posted from
United States -
Good call, Ian. I don’t know if there’s a sympathy factor that UEFA considers (the Monaco Premier League. Imagine.) All this talk about reform is scaring me.
Posted from
Canada -
Ian, I think its a fair point, but with all the negotiating that would have to take place to make a move to the EPL happen, do you really think Lawwell and Minty Moonbeams (or whoever owns Rangers at the time) would gloss over this “minor” issue? No way.
If discussions like this were ever to take place, I would think that Celtic and Rangers would be negotiating from a position of strength, and would dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s. They’re too smart to get put into the situation described. Despite what Valley Rams says, 60K and 51K a week in the stands absolutely matters. Do not be deceived, thats money on the table.
The English FA have pretty much proven to be Keystone Kops, so I’m guess the Old Firm could extort whatever they wanted from them with intelligent negotiating.
No way Celtic or Rangers start from League 2. With all due respect to Cardiff City, the Old Firm is not Cardiff City. One team gets promoted from the Championship. Simple as that.
Posted from
United States
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