Old Firm move is finally put to bed

The English Football Association yesterday effectively ruled out any hope Celtic and Rangers might have of playing in English football when its board ruled that it would not sanction such a move for next season or any other season.

The decision ends weeks of speculation that English First Division clubs were about to invite Celtic and Rangers into their competition for next season as a way of securing a new TV deal following the collapse of ITV Digital.

The Old Firm saw it as a way of getting into the Premiership, but the FA's board upheld rules that only English and Welsh clubs can contest England's top league. Given that UEFA has already stated that it would only support Celtic and Rangers playing in England if the national association approves it, the decision is seen as the end of the proposal.

"The FA today made it clear that it would not sanction either Celtic or Rangers joining the Nationwide Football League," it said in a statement. "This was discussed at a recent board meeting. The FA have reconfirmed that such a move would be contrary to its policy and against the spirit of fair competition."

Despite widespread speculation about the Old Firm's plan, the project was always doomed given that a majority of the 20 Premiership clubs also oppose it. The move was also opposed by the Scottish Football Association.

According to some reports, the Football League board was due to invite Celtic and Rangers into the First Division at a meeting tomorrow, but it has now emerged that the subject was not even on the agenda and that a majority of the League's 72 clubs were opposed to the idea.

The Football League may continue to investigate the possibility of Celtic and Rangers taking part in the League Cup, as long as they give up any chance of qualifying for Europe through that competition. However, that plan is likely to be blocked by the FA too.

Last week a meeting between the Football League chairman Keith Harris and representatives of the Old Firm made it clear that there would be too many hurdles involved in the clubs playing in the First Division.

"There's a world of difference between wanting it to happen and actually implementing it," the Football League spokesman John Nagle said last night:

The decision leaves Celtic and Rangers in a difficult position, particularly over what they will do about negotiating a new TV deal with the 10 other Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs. However, the idea of the Atlantic League remains alive. This would involve clubs from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia and Scotland contesting a trans-national league, but UEFA is opposed to the idea.