Bhoys open to possible Prem switch

22 April 2009 08:15
Chief executive Peter Lawwell has admitted Celtic may have to give "serious consideration" to moving to a revamped English Premier League.It has been reported Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is keen to invite the Old Firm duo down to England in a restructuring of the Premier League.Gartside is proposing plans for a two-tier Premier League, with Celtic and Rangers initially joining the second tier.Lawwell insists Celtic are "delighted" to play in Scotland, but admits he would have to seriously consider the idea of a move to England."We are a Scottish club. We are playing in Scotland at the moment and we are delighted to do that," Lawwell told Celtic TV."It's an exciting league but in the long term we have a responsibility to look. I think we would be obliged to look closer at something like that."We don't know anything about the details but we believe it is not only Bolton and Phil Gartside who have support for it."We will just wait and see how it develops. These type of things have happened before and they haven't been able to deliver, so we will wait and take it from there."Lawwell added: "I think there is a very strong rationale at the moment for an EPL2."The bottom half of the EPL at the moment, especially this year with it being tight, are getting a wee bit concerned that it is such a huge drop from the EPL into the Championship."So I guess they are looking for a softer landing and, potentially, this could deliver it."I believe the top four are looking for less games and an 18-team league. Maybe this could deliver that as well."Circumstantially, at the moment, there seems to be a lot going on but only time will tell how that will affect Celtic and Rangers."Any move to England could affect the Old Firm's participation in Europe, but Lawwell accepts the club would have decide what is best for the club in the long-term."It's too early for us to even consider that," noted Lawwell."But we all have a responsibility here to look at what is best for Celtic Football Club and our supporters."If the right proposal comes along we will give it serious consideration and see where we go."[LNB]

Source: Eurosport