By this point of time, it is no secret that Celtic and the Rangers are the two dominant teams in Scottish football and the other clubs are caught up vying for third place every season. That does not make for a very competitive league but the struggle between the two Glasgow sides is a spectacle in itself and the main attraction of the Premiership.
But in quite a view expressed by former Scotland boss, Craig Levein, it looks like he would like to see Celtic and the Rangers leave Scottish football altogether. Yet, he still wants the two clubs to continue putting money into the league.
Yes, the lack of competition is a problem in Scottish football. But the solution is not sending away its two most famous clubs, who are the reason most people watch the league.
Levein’s answer to the lack of competition doesn’t seem focussed on how to make Hearts, Hibernian, Aberdeen or other teams better and be able to stand their ground against Celtic and the Rangers. Instead, it is based upon taking down the level of the league, just to make it more competitive in theory.
Former Scotland manager makes bizarre Celtic and Rangers claim
As reported by the Daily Record, Levein said:
"“My views are very straight forward – when the next financial crisis happens in the Premier League in England and they are looking for something different then I would absolutely drive the Old Firm down there myself.“I would love the two of them to play in England and represent Scotland, get the money that’s associated with that which would allow them to grow and be competitive in that league.“And at the same time if they both gave the teams in Scotland £50m a year, so a combined £100m, for allowing them to move down there then that would allow the Scottish game to grow immeasurably.”"
Many football followers would fear the loss of income and attention that Celtic and the Rangers in particular provide to Scottish football. Levein has that covered, but perhaps not in a way that those clubs would like.
The two Glasgow giants have been linked with a move to the Premier League for years but it has never happened. And at the moment, it does not feel like it will take place anytime soon either. Even if it does, there would have to be a more innovative solution than Celtic and the Rangers being expected to continously pump money into a league that they are no longer a part of.