Thursday 12th November 2009
Clarets chief against Old Firm
Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher is against proposals to invite Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers into the Premier League.
Fletcher and Clarets chairman Barry Kilby will register their opposition to the plan at today's meeting of all English top-flight chairmen in London.
One of the main topics for discussion is the idea of inviting the Old Firm giants to join a new, two-tier Premier League, something proposed by Bolton's Phil Gartside and supported by ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish, who is now at Birmingham, ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, now at Aston Villa, Everton manager David Moyes and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
"My first view is that it would ruin football in Scotland," said Fletcher.
"What the Hearts and Hibernians and Aberdeens of this world would think about it ... whether they would slip into non-league football, I don't know."
Burnley's former Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher also thinks taking Celtic and Rangers out of Scottish football would be a bad move.
"Everyone looks forward to playing the Old Firm sides so I think it would take a big part of that away," said the 22-year-old.
"I've played a lot of my football up there and I don't want to see that.
"I don't think they'd do badly if they came down but they're two Scottish teams and I think they should stay up there for the SPL's sake as well."
Other issues also arise from a new revamped structure, such as whether there will be realistic relegation from the second tier as the suggestion is that teams are only promoted to Premier League 2 if they meet strict financial criteria and their ground is up to a required standard.
Burnley are the smallest club in the Premier League and were playing League One football just nine years ago.
"We can see the pros and cons of it but whether it would be good for Burnley I don't know," chief executive Fletcher told the Lancashire Telegraph.
Ahead of the chairmen's meeting, McLeish today became the latest Barclays Premier League manager to back plans to include the Old Firm in the competition.
It is not known whether a vote will be taken on the issue but, if so, it is believed it would need the backing of 14 of the 20 clubs.
Mustering that level of support appears unlikely but Birmingham boss McLeish reckons the Old Firm will move south sooner or later.
He told the Scottish Sun: "I have always thought it would be fantastic to have Rangers and Celtic in the English Premier League.
"They are more than just clubs. They are enormous institutions who deserve to have a platform like that.
"Can I see a day when it actually happens? Yes, I can.
"And I've said for many years and even gone on record to say that TV money will have a big influence on such a massive move."
Former Rangers manager McLeish added: "I've always believed that the people who will be most influential when it comes to change are the TV companies, especially Sky.
"Yes, the football authorities like FIFA, UEFA, the FA and SFA have expressed opposition in the past. They argue letting Rangers and Celtic into England would open the floodgates around the world. They fear Dutch clubs would want entry into the Bundesliga or French clubs would want into Serie A.
"I understand those fears but Sky will have a major voice in the future of the game here."
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