Craig Levein reiterates demand for Rangers and Celtic to play in English Premier League
Craig Levein has implied that Rangers and Celtic are a hindrance to the growth of Scottish football and they should instead play in the English Premier League.
The St Johnstone manager first made the point earlier this year in quotes attributed to the Daily Record [14 March], while adding that the Old Firm pair should pay £50million each to other Scottish clubs.
Ahead of St Johnstone’s trip to Ibrox on Wednesday (20 December), Levein has doubled down on that suggestion as he outlined his plans to improve the standard of football in the country.
“The top two get it all,” he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport [19 December] on the subject of prize money. “Well, not all but a massive amount compared to the rest. And that keeps the rest down a bit.
“I would love to see the Old Firm playing in the English Premier League. Then they would be able to afford to pay £50m each per season to the rest of Scottish football. Will it ever happen? I don’t think so.
“The game on the pitch is really competitive until you look at the money the Old Firm have compared to everybody else. But the rest are really competitive.”
It goes without saying really that these comments made by Levein are rather bizarre.
The former Scotland manager is suggesting Rangers and Celtic leave the division, while at the same time finding £100m between them to fund the clubs they are leaving behind.
As a reminder to Levein, Rangers – and, yes, Celtic – bring in large sums of money to the Scottish game through television rights and also by advancing in Europe.
The Gers should not be punished for being a big drawer. As in any league, the clubs at the top are naturally rewarded more handsomely than the rest.
Instead, it is down to the other teams – St Johnstone among them – to find ways to bridge the gap on the top two.
As it is, Rangers look set to be embroiled in an entertaining title tussle with Celtic, which will only garner interest from further afield.
It is fair to say that the Gers will not be packing their bags any time soon, and nor will they spend half of their yearly operating budget on making rival clubs stronger.
In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement may be tempted to drop one of his regulars for the visit of St Johnstone.