Celtic Football Club

• Nickname:The bhoys, The hoops
• Founded:1888
• Manager:Neil Lennon

• Ground:Celtic Park
• Capacity:60832

No Old Firm surprise for Smith

13 Nov 2009 - 12:36:49

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Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has admitted to not being surprised that the English Premier League rejected a proposal to allow Celtic and Rangers to play south of the border.

The chairmen of the English Premier League shunned the chance to discuss a move in greater detail, with the door well and truly slammed shut on the Old Firm for the foreseeable future.

Smith said: "It's important a decision has been made and it didn't surprise me.

"I heard a lot of positives from coaches and managers but they do not make these kinds of decisions.

"It is good that the matter can now go away and we can concentrate on building the Scottish game now the Old Firm are staying in Scotland."