Time could be right for Old Firm switch

The Old Firm can become financial powerhouses if they are allowed to join the Barclays Premier League, according to the author of an annual report on Scottish football’s finances.

David Glen, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, believes the prospect is more likely to occur than ever before because of the nature of the latest proposal, by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, to formulate a plan for two 18-team divisions, the second of which would initially include Celtic and Rangers.

There are many obstacles to overcome, not least the approval of Uefa and governing bodies on both sides of the border, and talks on the matter have been delayed until at least the summer.

Uefa, however, today said it would not oppose the plan and would be willing to leave any decision to the leagues and associations involved.

Director of communications William Gaillard told BBC Scotland: “We wouldn’t take a position on such a proposal.”

Glen feels this particular plan is more attractive to clubs in the bottom half of the English top flight, whose status would naturally be threatened by the arrival of the Glasgow clubs.

And he argues the Old Firm would challenge the hierarchy of power in the English game if they had access to massively-increased TV revenue.

Both clubs have average attendances above 50,000 - only Manchester United can accommodate more fans than Celtic in Britain - and large fan bases in parts of the world including Ireland, North America and Australia.

“Rangers and Celtic have always had a very large income stream despite not being in England or in one of the large European leagues,” Glen said today. “They have always teetered around the top 20 in the money league in Europe.

“It always seemed to me there’s a fantastic income base already. If you add the TV income to that, they would become very powerful.”

Gartside’s plan would need backing from 14 of the 20 top-flight clubs but, with the spectre of relegation haunting most this season, the prospect of softening the financial blow of dropping a division could hold appeal.

Glen said: “I think what it’s going to boil down to is how the TV money gets split between the two divisions.

“At the moment, the bottom club is getting £26-28million whereas the top of the table gets £50million, which totally dwarves what we get in Scotland.

“The current Setanta deal supplies £13million a season across all clubs. That is due to be increased but, as we have heard in recent days, Setanta are looking to renegotiate.”

Glen added: “This plan might have more chance. Any time it has been talked about, it was on the basis they would go direct into the top flight.

“Clubs near the relegation zone would never have voted for it, it would have been like turkeys voting for Christmas.

“The difference here with the two league set-up is that they would have to come into the bottom league.”

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has argued the Old Firm should pay £100million for such a privilege.

Glen said: “I can see what he is saying, ‘you’re coming to join our league and that’s generating the income so why should you have that for nothing?’

“But the other side of the coin is that the Old Firm can attract more fans, particularly into a Premier League II. Those clubs will get a shot in the arm from the travelling support.”

The Scottish Football Association has refused to comment on the proposal but they are likely to oppose any exit of the two biggest clubs.

But Glen believes a financial pay-off could possibly pave their way from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

“There’s the potential to have less excitement without the Old Firm but also the potential to become more competitive,” Glen added. “I would suppose that, if the Old Firm were allowed to leave, it would be on the basis of a parachute payment. Some of the riches might have to be passed back down.”