Mowbray: Old Firm would boost Prem

23 July 2009 18:52
Mowbray, who left West Brom to take charge at Celtic Park this summer, stopped short of describing the move as "inevitable" out of respect for Scottish football. But he can envisage a time when Premier League bosses recognise their competition needs the financial power and global draw of Rangers and Celtic. "I think they would enhance the Premier League," said Mowbray. "My first game in charge was 12,000 miles away over in Australia and to see 25,000 Celtic supporters in the stadium suggests it is a world-wide football club that would bring a world-wide audience. "With the television rights that go with the Premier League, Celtic and Rangers can only be looked upon as something that would enhance the Premier League. "I don't think it is for us to go chasing. It is not for us to go knocking doors down. "When the day comes it'll be because the Premier League - whether it will be in a different guise of one and two (divisions) - will need the drawing power of the Old Firm. "Both sides of the Old Firm have drawing power across the world and that could be a positive for the Premier League." Mowbray believes the money Manchester City are throwing around in an attempt to break into the top four underlines the argument for opening the door to the Glasgow giants. "In Scotland you have a few clubs that tend to dominate year in and year out. "In England over the last dozen years there have been four clubs dominating. "The rest are a long way behind and ultimately the product needs to be attractive," he said. "Potentially the Old Firm would have the world audience, they would be able to have the money from the Premier League and the income from their shirt sales and sponsorship. "In my opinion those clubs could compete with the bigger teams in the Premier League which would recreate that competition." But Mowbray was anxious not to be seen beating down the doors to the Premier League, having only just swapped English football for the SPL. The former Ipswich and Celtic defender has played and managed in both England and Scotland and he is anxious that any Old Firm move does not undermine the fabric of the game north of the border. "The other issues around that (a potential move) are the aftermath of Scottish football and all those things have to be catered for and looked at," he said. "There is a responsibility to the bigger picture and it is not just about being selfish." Mowbray reiterated that Celtic are working hard to complete a new signing before Thursday night's 11pm deadline for next week's Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Moscow. The Hoops boss is hoping to squeeze in a trip to Moscow this weekend in between Celtic's two fixtures in the Wembley Cup, which starts on Friday against African champions Al Ahly.

Source: Team_Talk