Don't expect Celtic in plans for restructured English Football League
There’s no doubting that Celtic FC would benefit from much more strenuous competition in domestic league play. Some have floated for awhile now that moving to league play within the English setup would provide that step up in competition.
However, the debate over a move to the English Football League or the Premiere League has been a far-fetched fantasy for awhile. With the rebranded EFL announcing changes back in May, hope sprung in some corners that Celtic and Sevco may have a way in to a stronger league structure.
That door has quickly closed though, as the BBC reports that it has eliminated the possibilities of adding the ‘Old Firm’ (remember those days) teams or Premier League ‘B’ squads to any restructure of the EFL.
It appears the biggest hurdle is the fact that former Premier League teams would like an easier route back up to the golden goose that is today’s EPL. That much was made clear by Portsmouth chief executive Mark Catlin, who had this to say about adding teams from up north or changing anything of the structure of the EFL at this point:
“The other line in the sand as far as we’re concerned is taking away our aspiration to compete in the highest possible tier – by cutting the Championship and other divisions from 24 to 20 teams, they’re just never going to get our vote on that.
“One of the options that was brought to the table during the meeting was an option for no change at all.
“We like the existing structure, we like having FA Cup ties on weekends and we don’t want a winter break or two Scottish clubs introduced.”
It is easy to see why clubs like Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers would see adding clubs like Celtic would be an extra hurdle to their hopes of getting back to Premier League football.
However, from a Celtic point of view, there may be no better way to become a force on the European level than by getting in the English game some way or some how.
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It is difficult to see how the current Scottish set up and monetary situation is at all beneficial to the hopes of a club like Celtic. The focus is on becoming a regular fixture in Champions League football and the added money that comes with making the Group State.
That hasn’t been an easy road for the Scottish champions in the past few years, but the increase in money that would come with being included in the English game would certainly be
On the other hand, there is far more competition even at the Championship level in England, and Celtic’s spot in Champions League play may not be there for the taking anytime soon if a move to the English set up was made.
Does sacrificing European nights at Paradise for the money and stability of England make sense? That has bene the eternal debate as of late, but one that appears to be a non-starter for the folks that matter in the English set up.
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