Would ANYTHING stop

[davieG]

football.

I would if Celtic and Rangers were allowed straight into the Premier League.

This would be the final straw in the blatant commercialised, money grabbing, over inflated personalities that blights modern professional football - the final 2 fingers up to the fans of less fashionable clubs.

Beware it could happen:

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill came close to taking over as Tottenham boss two years ago he has revealed.

The Irishman stepped down from his position at Parkhead last week after five years in charge to spend more time with his ill wife, Geraldine.

O'Neill has subsequently been replaced by Gordon Strachan, but has claimed he almost left his post in the summer of 2003 after The Bhoys ended what promised to be a memorable season without a trophy.

He insists only the desire to wrest the SPL title back from arch rivals Rangers kept him North of the border.

"It was an extraordinary, fantastic year, one that everybody will keep talking about, yet we ended up without a trophy," he told The Scotsman.

"Rumours were abounding then that it was time to go and, to be honest, Spurs were strongly on the case.

"But, as things unfolded, I just wanted to regain the championship, I didn't want to leave here with that disappointment around the place.

"So we came back the following season and made sure we did it.

"And, as I've already said, that is my regret about leaving now, that I won't have the opportunity to come back next season and try to get it back again.

"Two years ago, I also wanted another crack at the Champions League, especially if we could improve the team and push on to a higher level.

"The unfortunate thing was that, from that time, we were unable to do so.

"It might not have taken an enormous amount, you know, just a couple of class players to make the difference, and I mean specifically for European football."

O'Neill also believes that Celtic are being kept from realising their true potential by being denied a move to the Barclays Premiership.

The former Leicester chief insists that, with the extra revenue a move to England's top-flight would generate, The Bhoys would be serious contenders for the Premiership crown.

"We could go straight to 85,000 capacity overnight, with 80,000 season ticket holders, there's no question of that," he continued.

"Within a year or two in the Premiership, they would never be a bit player, but a major, major player.

"If you take just the present £70million turnover and simply add the £25million they get annually from domestic TV alone in England, it would put us up there immediately with Arsenal, behind only Manchester United and Chelsea."

Oh well 'Keep the Faith'

[Nationwider]

Total agreement from me, DavieG. The only thing I want from Celtic and Rangers is their reserves playing for LCFC. Apart from that, they can stay up there thank you very much!

[TrickyTrev]

I would only accept it if they merged all the leagues together to form a "Britsh league", this is not desirable but making an exception for the old firm is just plain wrong.

[Guest]

If Celtic and Rangers want to join the PL, they can start from the bottom, like AFC Wimbledon are doing.

Once they've joined the English leagues, we should get rid of the 'Home Nations'; after all, what is the point in domestic teams when we have Scottish and Welsh teams in our league?

Come on Britain!