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Neil Lennon shares £120million Rangers ‘disparity’ problem in Premier League verdict
Neil Lennon has highlighted the “disparity” between the likes of Rangers and Celtic and clubs in the English Premier League.
The former Celtic manager has noted how clubs from the English top flight are in a much better position finally than Scotland’s big two.
Lennon believes that despite their huge support, the two clubs are at a severe disadvantage compared to their English counterparts.
“Celtic are a massive club,” Lennon said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast (31m35s, 25 May). “Every week there are 60,000 fans inside Celtic Park, and every end is packed out, and Rangers are the same. It’s a bit like Manchester City versus Manchester United but it’s far more historical.
“I think worldwide Celtic would be up there with the likes of Liverpool in terms of support. We went to America for pre-season a lot and there would be thousands of fans in Boston, New York, and Seattle. We’ve been to Australia a few times and there are so many expats out there as well. There’s massive support all around the world.
“The problem is that they are playing in Scotland. If you stay in the Premier League you get a minimum of £120million. If you win the league in Scotland you get maybe five to eight million, so you can see the disparity between what Celtic and Rangers have to do and what the Premier League teams do.”
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Financial disparity
The financial disparity has always existed between Scottish and English football, with huge amounts of money available in the latter, and not that much available in the former.
That gap has definitely increased over time due to the astonishing levels of money that the Premier League is now involved in, with clubs like Celtic and Rangers always going to be playing catch-up.
It does, however, make the achievements of the two Scottish giants that bit more impressive, particularly when they succeed in European football.
Rangers enjoyed a superb Europa League run last time out, with supporters desperate for a similar scenario to take place in Europe once again next season.
On the other side of the coin, the issue is highlighted further by the disparity within Scottish football itself, with Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic miles ahead of their opponents when it comes to the sums of money available to sign players and develop the club behind the scenes.
In other Rangers news, one former Celtic defender has praised Todd Cantwell and brandished the attacker as the “standout” signing in the SPFL.