Former Aberdeen chief executive, Keith Wyness, recently voiced his concerns about the possibility of Celtic and Rangers joining the English Premier League.
He believes such a move would have serious repercussions, describing it as a potential disaster for both Scottish and English football.
During Wyness’s tenure at Pittodrie from 2000 to 2004, the idea of Celtic and Rangers venturing into the English Premier League was frequently discussed.
However, Wyness was staunchly against this notion, even when he later worked for English clubs Aston Villa and Everton.
In 2009, a proposal by Phil Gartside, the chairman of Bolton Wanderers at the time, to integrate Celtic and Rangers into a two-tier English Premier League of 36 to 40 teams was rejected.
Wyness, reflecting on this, asserts that such a move remains unlikely and would pose significant challenges.
He highlights concerns about the impact on fanbases, suggesting that hosting weekend games involving Celtic and Rangers could put English cities ‘under siege’.
Wyness draws from his experience at Aberdeen, where he actively opposed the idea of Celtic and Rangers dominating Scottish football.
He recalls a pivotal moment when Aberdeen resigned from the Scottish Premier League, aiming to level the playing field and secure fairer TV revenue distribution.
Despite initial threats from Celtic and Rangers to join other European leagues, Wyness notes a diminishing interest in such a move in recent years.
In the current football landscape, Wyness believes the regulatory barriers and lack of enthusiasm in England make the prospect of Celtic and Rangers joining the English Premier League highly unlikely.
He emphasizes that existing rules would prevent such a transition and suggests there is little appetite for such a change among English football stakeholders.
In summary, Wyness paints a picture of significant obstacles facing the integration of Celtic and Rangers into the English Premier League.
While discussions have occurred in the past, the practical challenges, including logistical and regulatory issues, dampen the likelihood of this controversial move.
As football evolves, the question of cross-border leagues remains contentious, but for now, the traditional boundaries between Scottish and English football seem likely to endure.
