Pack Your Bags, We're Leaving...

A sensational new bid by Rangers and Celtic to join English ­football is receiving top-secret backing from Prime Minister David Cameron, writes the Sunday People.               

Sunday People Sport can ­reveal that Number 10 is ­taking a ­‘massive interest’ in the ­potential switch of the Scottish giants.Cameron’s surprise part in the controversial move is two-fold:* Because of fears over safety if the Glasgow clubs go into England’s lower leagues and ‘swamp’ small grounds with their massive support.* And, bizarrely but ­significantly, to catch votes in the upcoming vote on Scottish independence.Two major powerbrokers ­involved in the process confirmed that ­meetings have taken place ­recently with Cameron and other leading figures. And the Prime Minister’s team are planning to pull strings to make the move happen sooner rather than later.

Both Rangers and Celtic have tried to find ways of coming to England in the past few years, only to run into resistance.Rangers – under the leadership of Yorkshireman Charles Green – have even looked at joining the Conference.  And Celtic were manoeuvring to join the Football League at the third tier a year ago – as we exclusively revealed. Until now the game’s authorities have found ways of stopping the border ­raiders coming to England despite many clubs ­welcoming it for financial reasons.But if Cameron and his government allies can help persuade the leaders of the FA, Premier League and Football League behind the scenes it could be breakthrough time.

One prominent figure, who wishes to remain anonymous, insists Rangers and Celtic have “never had a better chance” of coming to England because of the political climate. He said: “This is a major issue and the talks have gone all the way to the very top.“There would be huge potential ­problems if Rangers decided to buy their way into a Conference club. It is something they are openly talking about.“Could you imagine thousands of their fans turning up at tiny grounds and all of the policing and security problems that would cause.“That is a major worry for Cameron and that has been pointed out in ­discussions about what would happen in those circumstances.“And, of course, there is the vote on independence which is currently splitting Scotland and putting Cameron under pressure as the Queen would see the union being broken up on his watch.“Rangers fans are squarely behind the unionist cause and will always wave the flag.

But if Celtic were to be playing in England it might prove to their fans that they should be British. This may sound strange to people in England but there are hundreds of ­thousands of votes here – and football is at the middle of a lot of debates up here.”The Conference issue could be kicked into touch, as fresh moves are being talked about among Championship ­chairmen to find a way of bringing Rangers and Celtic into the second tier.One top source confirmed: “It is the only sensible solution. We all know the clubs want to come here and would do virtually anything to make it happen. It would be very difficult under the present rules. But there are moves afoot. Any government support could only help.”One scenario is that the larger clubs in the Championship form a breakaway – in effect Premier League Two – and invite Rangers and Celtic to the party.It would only take a year to set up, which would no doubt meet with ­approval in high places, where a deal BEFORE the Scottish independence vote in September 2014 is seen as crucial.

The most drastic plan would be for Celtic or Rangers to BUY a Conference side, or a struggling League One or League Two club, but this would also increase government safety concerns.Such an option could see the ­astonishing prospect of Rangers and Celtic moving lock stock and barrel to England before eventually returning to Ibrox and Parkhead.The Scots giants are even willing to pay to come to England – with talk of a £15million bounty each which would go to Football League clubs who could lose out.But those amounts would be peanuts compared to the money that would roll in from TV revenue when they reach the Premier League promised land.Top clubs in England pocket in the region of £60m each from TV rights – that figure will be closer to £100m from next season when an astonishing ­£3billion new deal kicks in.Celtic, in contrast, pick up £2.4m for winning the Scottish league.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/prime-minister-david-cameron-backs-1794754

If it's in the We Are The (Sunday) People then it must be true...

Surely that's for Monday's papers

I'm sure it'll be in the Monday People too...

1) It was the UK govt which refused us a CVA.
2) I don't want Rangers to play in England.

therrawbuzzin wrote:1) It was the UK govt which refused us a CVA.
2) I don't want Rangers to play in England.

this really shows the desperation of the unionists if they think they need to appeal to old firm fans to keep their campaign on track

Avoiding the whole indepence thing I'd be plenty happy with Rangers playing in the English leagues...

Scottish football is depressingly shite and that is never going to change...

The short sightedness of the people in charge has been testament to that for years...

Down there they have a good set up in place, much more variety and much more money on offer...

As it stands we couldn't compete in a pub league at the moment but back at the top what do we have to look forward to..??

An average team playing every other team a minimum of four times a season, much the same as we have for the next few years, as it happens...

However, I'll take what's in the article with just the smallest pinch of salt...

the set up's only better because sky tv pump millions of pounds into it. they're never going to do that here. i've never felt the answer was for us to join them - we're scottish and should play in scotland where we can play in european competition

The league set up in general is better...

No daft split, no proposal for two leagues breaking into three leagues and whatever other new shite they dream up...

As I said, football here has died on it's arse...

For clarity, I didn't say, or intend to imply, that I think that Rangers should stay in Scotland.

What would you like to see happen..??