Rangers manager Walter Smith says that Scottish soccer will be “in danger of dying” if his side and Celtic do not move to join a European league.
Both Old Firm clubs have recently reiterated their interest in joining either the English Premier League or a long-mooted “Atlantic League” involving the top sides from Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scandinavia.
Critics say that such a move would sound the death-knell for the sport north of the border, but Smith believes it could be beneficial for everyone involved.
“I take the opposite view to a lot of people,” Smith said on Friday. “I think if we don’t [leave the SPL], Scottish football is in danger of dying. We are already seeing a downturn financially, with our top players moving out of the SPL. Both Rangers and Celtic need owners to subsidize the team and, in any business, that’s not healthy. There is this idea that Rangers and Celtic are only looking after themselves, but if we don’t keep a high profile for our game, across Europe and so on, then we will be even worse off. We will be dragged down.”
“Less than 20 years ago, we could compete with English teams. Now that is impossible and it will only continue,” he said. “SPL clubs are losing players to the English Championship and League One. That is a measure of a steady decline in standards and finances.”
Any move toward the creation of an Atlantic League would likely take years and although Smith believes it would be a “natural progression,” he feels the Glasgow clubs would maintain a presence in Scottish soccer.
“Rangers and Celtic would still field teams in Scotland, even if they left to join a European league,” he said. “They might have to start at the bottom division and work their way up again, but they would always have a presence in Scottish football. Scottish football will survive without the Old Firm.”
Celtic’s Australian international striker Scott McDonald has also thrown his weight behind the proposals and says that, from a player’s perspective, the absence of the Old Firm could create big opportunities for Scottish players.
“If you were left behind in this league, only time would tell,” McDonald said. “It could work either way. It could be a good opportunity for other teams to win things and become bigger clubs and then get bigger crowds at their games.”
Regardless of the eventual outcome, McDonald believes he is unlikely to be still be playing if and when Celtic and Rangers depart for pastures new.
“We just get on with the job,” the 26-year-old said. “I don’t think it really would concern us anyhow. I don’t think it would happen overnight. It is something that would have to be worked on over a good period of time. As players, you only worry about the next day. You don’t really look beyond that, as you don’t know how long you’ll be here.”
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