English clubs woo Old Firm

Geoffrey Richmond wants the Old Firm to make approach

England's First Division clubs are poised to offer Celtic and Rangers a way out of Scottish football.

The chairmen of Bradford City and West Bromwich Albion have both suggested that the crisis that has struck the Scottish Premier League could hasten an Old Firm move to the Nationwide League.

And the SPL say they would not stand in the way of the Glasgow clubs if they wanted to move to England.

Scotland's other 10 top-flight clubs on Tuesday stunned Celtic and Rangers by announcing their intention to resign from the SPL in two years' time after a row over television deals.

That leaves the Old Firm in limbo and there has been speculation for some months that they have been involved in informal talks with English clubs.

The vast majority of the chairmen here would welcome Celtic and Rangers

Geoffrey Richmond

The Glasgow pair's preference is for a move to the Premiership and see the expiry of BSkyB's television deal with England's top league next year as an inviting window of opportunity.

That idea has so far failed to gain support by the club's presently involved in England's top league.

But Bradford's Geoffrey Richmond believes that a move to the First Division would be supported by his fellow chairmen and European football's governing body.

Richmond told the Scottish Daily Mail: "There has been no approach by either Rangers or Celtic to the Nationwide League.

"The Premiership made it clear they weren't interested in the Old Firm in December.

"The only way Celtic and Rangers can get there, therefore, is via the Football League.

"I have no doubt that the vast majority of the chairmen here would welcome Celtic and Rangers, for obvious reasons.

"The rules would probably have to be changed to parachute both clubs into Division One, but I think there is overwhelming support in favour of their application to do that."

Europe's governing body, Uefa, and world equivalent Fifa have both indicated that they would not be in favour of clubs playing in leagues outwith their national boundaries.

But Richmond said: "It would have to be approved by both the SPL and SFA. But, after yesterday's events, I imagine that would now be forthcoming.

"With their support then I can't see any opposition coming either the Football League or even Uefa.

Celtic and Rangers eye the Premiership

"But it's up to the Old Firm to make their intentions clear."

Even then, the 72 clubs in the Football League would have to agree and that is one reason why the First Division is seeking autonomy from the rest of the league.

Second and Third Division clubs are likely to be against the Old Firm leapfrogging them into the First Division.

West Brom chairman Paul Thompson told the Guardian that Rangers and Celtic would be welcomed in England - but only if their inclusion cemented the relationship between the Premiership and the First Division.

"We have all got to look at what is in the best interests of the country, that's Britain, as a whole," Thompson said.

"From an English point of view, we need to protect the competition between the Premier League and First Division and if Rangers and Celtic helped then that can only be positive."