Rangers

[bibblebub]

Almost certainly thay won't be allowed to simply carry on in the SPL as a newco and will have to apply to join the SFA and then the SFL. If that works out then it would be at least 3 years until they could be back in the SPL. It would be a surprise if the better players will hang around for that long to be playing at the top level again.

Will they ever get back to challenging Celtic for the title or will vying with the likes of Aberdeen and Motherwell for runners-up spot be a more realistic target?

[doctordb]

Now is a good time for Rangers to hit back by applying to play their football south of the border. The sfa would struggle without them.

[bibblebub]

AT what level would they start down here? The Conference?

[doctordb]

They'd want championship but I think league two is more realistic.

[albaqwerty]

I don't think they are wanted south of the border.

A 19 year old Rangers player has received death-threats.

[bibblebub]

Death threats seem to be part and parcel of playing for either Old Firm team.

[albaqwerty]

It's abhorrent.

[bibblebub]

Anyhoo, you only have to look at a team like Leeds to realise that it's not a doddle for any team to have an easy passage into the EPL.

[Davethedog]

Apply to play South of the border and be rejected. Who would make way to let them in?

[ichkeria]

If Rangers applied to play in the English league they'd have to start at the bottom of the pyramid structure like any other team applying to join.
That would be a hell of a drastic and vindictive way of "hitting back" at the SFA.

[Duncer]

As a Rangers fan of many years standing I believe that we should start all over again in the Third Division and, if we do, then I might just get my season ticket again. The club deserves to be punished and this would allow us to start with a clean slate while giving time to rebuild after the inevitable player exodus.

Speaking of punishment, I sincerely hope that the real architects of this fiasco, David Murray mainly, and Craig Whyte, are hauled through the courts and held responsible fro ruining the hopes and dreams of many thousands of ordinary fans who live for the club. I hope they can live with themselves? I spoke out against Murray in the fanzines many years ago when he started selling off the club's assets like catering and ticketing, but was derided by people who claimed "What about all he has done for the club"? Yeah, like paying himself £6.2 million through an EBT while selling off the aforementioned assets. To his sons!

Satrting in the Third Division would unfortunately penalise some of the SPL clubs financially and, while hitting the likes of Aberdeen and Hibs would appeal to me greatly, (sorry guys, I don't really beleive that sporting integrity is your motivator), I feel sorry for clubs like Motherwell, Ross County, and Kilmarnock who could lose £1million this coming season.

I am also very annoyed that the Celtic Supporters Association has threatened to boycott clubs that vote "yes" to allow a newco into the SPL. As already stated, I don't think we should get in, and each club must vote according to it's own conscience. However, the CSA's declaration is nothing more than an attempt to bully clubs by holding a smoking financial gun to their heads, and they need to concern themselves with their own club rather than others. To get on their high horse and lecture about sporting integrity is a bit rich when their own actions are anything but. It is manipulative and spiteful.

Those so called Rangers "fans" making death threats are morons who might think they are helping the cub in their strange twisted way, but they are doing irreperable damage and they should really stay at home and do something constructive, like evolve.

[doctordb]

Money talks and a lot of struggling chairman and sponsors in the football league would welcome Rangers and the added revenue they would bring, not only at the gate but also through television rights. It goes against the grain of most football fans but the current isolation of rangers brings the possibility of a split closer. Then what would celtic do?

[ichkeria]

Football league chairmen might welcome Rangers into the Football league but it's not up to them. And which club chairman would be willing have his team make way for them? The idea is a non-starter.
Duncer is right to highlight the disgraceful and bigoted attitude of the CSA. Celtic needs Rangers in Scottish football, more, I would suggest, than a lot of the other clubs need it. Rangers FC will stay in Scotland, in one form or another.

[doctordb]

The chairmen and sponsors of clubs have more power than you think, that's why we have a epl and champions league. The days of the F.A's Running the game are long gone.

[Goonermatt]

More worryingly, will anyone ever be able to challenge Celtic for the title again?

Isn't it going to be (even more) boring when there is only one (half) decent team in the SPL instead of the two?

[ichkeria]

Yes they have power (and the FA don't run the Football League anyway of course) but they aren't going to vote to replace one of their own with a team from - effectively - abroad. Additionally, what if the FA and the Premier League didn't agree? I can't see Rangers being interested unless they could one day play in the top league.
If Rangers came into English football they'd have to start all over again. As it is they may have to start in the lowest league in Scotland. They'd soon get back to the SPL.

[ichkeria]

"Isn't it going to be (even more) boring when there is only one (half) decent team in the SPL instead of the two? "

Yes, and Celtic would undoubtedly lose support or interest. TV interest would probably drop which would in turn affect their revenue. That's why, beyond the natural desire to see the club punished for past wrongdoing, I don't understand their supporters' attitude. Short term it might be fun to see Rangers in trouble, but long term it's very bad news for them.

[Duncer]

ichkeria is spot on, what turkey is ever going to vote for Christmas? No English club in their right mind would vote to have Rangers take a place in the Championship/League One/League Two, (can't we just return to Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4?), as it would result in less spaces near the top table for them.

I once suspected that Sky might engineer both OF into the EPL by offering an immoral amount of cash, but this seems to be unlikely, given the size of the recent English TV deal.

Bring on Division Three and trips to East Stirlingshire, Clyde, Annan and all.

[Duncer]

Lafferty and Jamie Ness off now too - it really does look bleak.

[bibblebub]

The one big asset that Rangers does have are the loyal fans who will fill the stadium no matter what league they end up in but is that income sufficient to lessen the impact of reduced tv income?

[Duncer]

Debatable bibblebub (I pray that I never have to say those two words together when I'm drunk), but I live in hope. I'm gutted to be losing the likes of Naismith, Lafferty, Whittaker, Aluko, (one of the bright lights from last season), and youngsters like McCabe and Ness, but they're now off the wage bill.

A lot will depend on who comes in.

I suspect some English clubs will get an absolute bargain in Naismith. When injury free he was a joy to watch.