Celtic star Crosas insists: Old Firm are Scottish and don't belong in England

12 November 2009 11:51
Celtic midfielder Marc Crosas has called for talk of a move to England to be silenced if Barclays Premier League chairmen reject proposals to invite the Old Firm.[LNB]Let's stay where we are: Celtic's Marc Crosas (left) feels talk of a move to the Premier League is wrong[LNB]The former Barcelona player believes constant discussion over the future of Celtic and Rangers is 'disrespectful' to the rest of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.[LNB]Plans to include the Glasgow clubs in a new two-tier system are unlikely to win widespread backing when English top-flight chairmen meet in London today.[LNB]And Crosas feels that should see the issue put on the backburner.[LNB]'Maybe for Celtic, Rangers and the fans it would be better,'  he said when asked whether it would be better for Celtic to play in the English leagues.[LNB]'But maybe it wouldn't be for the Scottish league. We need to show some respect to the other teams in Scotland as well.[LNB]'We cannot be talking all the time about going to England. We're in the Scottish league playing against Scottish teams.'[LNB]With the bottom 12 clubs in the Premier League separated by just nine points, chairmen are unlikely to invite two clubs who could further threaten their place in the top flight.[LNB]"If you go back 20 years the Old Firm really were a great threat in Europe and that's no longer the case"Former Birmingham owner David Gold [LNB]Stoke chairman Peter Coates said: 'We have lots of fine clubs in England to play and we have a system that has worked very well in a competitive sense.[LNB]'We have 20 teams in the Premier League and they are all tough games. If Celtic and Rangers were to come in, after a while that would become the norm. It would be no big thing. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses.'[LNB]Another Premier League chairman said: 'I don't believe there is an appetite to have the Old Firm - this is all about strategy.[LNB]'A number of clubs are not completely happy with the way things are and this move by Phil Gartside is the first step to making things more equal.'[LNB]Former Birmingham chairman David Gold believes the Old Firm need to move awayfrom Scotland, but he also believes the chances of Bolton chairman Gartside's proposal succeeding are 'very, very slim'.[LNB] (Old) Firm views: David Gold (left) might buy Rangers if they were in the Premier League, something  Phil Gartside would like to see happen [LNB]When asked if he would consider investing in up-for-sale Rangers were they in the Barclays Premier League, he said: 'I would be more likely to because there is no question, as the structure exists, I can only see a downward spiral in terms of income and interest outside of Glasgow in Celtic and Rangers.[LNB]'Although they automatically enter the European competitions, they really are becoming second-class football clubs, entering the lower competitions, and it'sa sad thing to see.[LNB]'If you go back 20 years the Old Firm really were a great threat in Europe and that's no longer the case. [LNB]'The greatest danger undoubtedly is the reduction in TV income and I think they have done all they can in terms of restructuring the leagues. Now they have to go farther afield.'[LNB][LNB]  Explore more:People:David GoldPlaces:Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Source: Daily_Mail