Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  Scottish Football  |  Topic: Old Firm will join the Premier League - Dermot Desmond

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8954996.stm

Celtic's largest shareholder believes the Old Firm giants will join England's Premier League because of the influence of media organisations on football.

Last year, Premier League clubs voted to reject a proposal to bring Rangers and Celtic into the English top flight.

"What will dictate them joining is the fans and the media companies," Dermot Desmond told BBC Radio 5 live.

"The companies are directing Premier League policy and they'll decide it'll be a good thing if the pair joined."

The 2009 proposal was put together by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside who suggested that the Scottish sides would be part of a two-tier Premier League.

Premier League chief executive Peter Scudamore said at the time: "As regards to Celtic and Rangers it's a non-starter.

"So we've made a clear and unequivocal statement and we're going to move on from there. No means no."

Desmond also reiterated his belief that clubs' wages need to be capped to prevent them from going out of business.

"There should be regulations and rules throughout Europe," he stated.

"There should be a cap on how much a club can borrow and a cap on wages in relation to its revenue.

"It's important that clubs are not being jeopardised. I'm sure in the next few years we will see some clubs will go out of business."

This old chesnut again. I'm sorry ro say I can't see this happening in my life time 

 

I wish it would happen, but I just can't see it happening 

Old Firm switch ruled out

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6365520,00.html

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster does not expect Rangers and Celtic to leave for England any time in the 'foreseeable future'.

The debate has raged for several years over whether the Old Firm might go south of the border and join the Premier League.

Clubs in the English top flight discussed the matter last November, with a new-look Premier League structure incorporating the Glasgow giants on the agenda.

The proposal was rejected but Celtic's largest shareholder Dermot Desmond recently suggested the influence media organisations wield would eventually lead to the Old Firm being invited to England.

Doncaster, however, remains adamant that Scotland's two largest clubs will stay in the SPL.

Reality

He told Sky Sports News: "We all have dreams for our clubs but I prefer to live in the day-to-day reality of where we are.

"Rangers and Celtic are an important part of what we've got in the SPL and I foresee them being here for the foreseeable future.

"They are Scottish clubs and they're in the SPL. I've got to deal with the reality of what faces me on a day-to-day basis, which is improving the environment as best I can for all Scottish clubs and that includes Rangers and Celtic.

"They are a fundamental part of Scottish football and I foresee that being the case ad infinitum."

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