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Il possibile passaggio delle due squadre di Glasgow dalla “SPL”  verso i campionati inglesi è una voce che si ripete da anni con una certa frequenza ma che raramente ha, fino a qui, prodotto qualcosa di più concreto di mere supposizioni. L’ultima uscita quasi contemporanea delle dirigenze dei due clubs, in tutto il resto fieramente rivali, lascia, però, supporre che qualcosa si stia effettivamente muovendo in questa direzione sebbene i maligni affermino che si tratti di un semplice modo per ottenere maggiori introiti dalla lega calcio scozzese. La “Scottish Premier League” dichiara, infatti, di volere trattenere le squadre di “Ibrox” ( foto ) e di “Parkhead”, anche a costo di qualche sacrificio, ma l’ uscita pubblica dei vertici del club biancoverde è di quelle destinate a fare discutere. I Celtic accetterebbero, per bocca del “Chief executive” Peter Lawwell, addirittura di partire dalle divisioni inferiori, sicuri di scalarle con passo celere. Il corrispettivo dei Rangers Martin Bain ha usato termini più prudenti asserendo che il destino del club potrebbe essere in Inghilterra entro una decina di anni qualora la “Premier League” dovesse venire allargata ad un numero maggiore di squadre; sarebbe allo studio, infatti,  un allargamento a trentasei formazioni da suddividersi in due gironi di diciotto caduno. Per bacino di utenza, sia in termini di passione popolare che da un punto di vista commerciale, le formazioni dell’ “Old Firm” avrebbero i numeri per essere inglobate nel calcio inglese dove le gallesi Cardiff e Swansea hanno già deciso di militare da diversi anni. In questo caso, però, si tratterebbe di squadre che porterebbero al seguito anche diverse migliaia di sostenitori nelle loro trasferte con benefici che andranno soppesati parallelamente ai problemi di ordine pubblico. Se la tifoseria dei Rangers ha fama più rude rispetto a quella dei Celtic, quest’ ultima cagionerebbe, a sua volta, ulteriori potenziali pericoli, essendo  malvista dalla quasi totalità dei supporters delle altre formazioni inglesi. Intanto episodi violenti si stanno verificando anche sui campi minori britannici; questa volta la notizia arriva dalle cronache giudiziarie di Southampton e la gara in questione è quella fra Swans e Spartans.

Neil Doncaster says the Old Firm are a vital part of the SPL

The Scottish Premier League has no plans for a top flight without the Old Firm, the body’s chief executive says.

Celtic indicated on Wednesday they would consider joining the lowest level of the English League with the aim of playing in its Premier League.But Neil Doncaster told BBC Scotland that it was his job as chief executive to promote the 12-club SPL “brands”.”What we need to do is do our utmost to use those brands to drive more money into Scottish football,” he said.Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said Scottish football would benefit from increased competition if the Old Firm played elsewhere.”There are only two teams that can win the league,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is the driving force behind the idea to include Rangers and Celtic in two divisions of 18 teams.Lawwell revealed that Celtic would consider joining the English league at the lowest level – if it meant they had a chance of playing in their Premier League one day.

The club would be prepared to enter the English pyramid at the base if it would benefit them in the long-term, he said.The issue has been raised several times over the years, with many fearing the loss of the Old Firm’s financial muscle would be ruinous for the Scottish game.However, when speculating about a future exit, Lawwell added: “When there is something to play for, the crowds go up.”And, if we move, there may be some sort of interim solidarity payment to see the clubs through the transition.”And the chief executive believes Celtic have the potential to be a major European player if the club can escape the constraints of the SPL.”If we had the TV rights value that you get in England, then there is no barrier for Celtic.”If you look at our story and compare it to Manchester United: the beginnings, the triumphs, the tragedies, the characters, they are almost identical.”But we play in a country of five million people and Manchester United play in the most successful league in the world.

“We continually look in awe at what’s happened in England. The English Premier League is an absolutely fantastic product.”The SPL told BBC Scotland that its focus was on promoting Scotland’s top flight – with the Old Firm in it.”My role is very different from Peter’s and is to do the very best that I can by all 12 SPL clubs,” said Doncaster.”From my point of view I’m delighted that the Old Firm are very much part of the SPL. I’m delighted that we’ve got the other 10 clubs in there as well.”My job is to drive all 12 clubs forward for their benefit as best I can.”Doncaster said he was aware of speculation surrounding the creation of a two-tier set-up, but preferred to deal in reality.”We’ve got 12 magnificent clubs within the SPL and we’re delighted to have them all there – including the Old Firm,” he said.”We’ve got an enormous amount of good within the SPL and two world-quality broadcasters who are showcasing our product.”We need to ensure we get more money from broadcasting and other areas.“

( BBC Sport )

Bain believes Rangers are an attractive proposition for broadcasters

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain believes the Ibrox club will have left the Scottish Premier League behind in the next 10 years.

And Bain suggested that a new European set-up might be the likely escape route for Rangers and Glasgow rivals Celtic.When asked by BBC Sport if he thought Rangers would be playing elsewhere within a decade, Bain replied: “I do.”There are a number of like-minded clubs who are currently hamstrung by the environment they are in.“An Atlantic League involving clubs from outside the five major European leagues; England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, has been discussed at length before.And Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, was cool on the idea being investigated again, preferring to court a move to England.

“I understand all the cross-border aspects but there are a number of like-minded clubs, who are currently hamstrung by the environment they are in.”As that groundswell grows, I think Uefa will take note and maybe that will lead to other things.”We have to be invited to a party. So we need to maintain our club and its infrastructure in order that at the time to be invited, we are there or thereabouts, then that’s an objective.”Bain spoke of his frustration at seeing the lowest placed club in the English top flight earning almost 15 times what the top club in Scotland can garner through sponsorship and media rights.And he believes the Old Firm are an attractive proposition for broadcasters.

“What the media companies want is the live spectacle and full houses,” he added. “Celtic and Rangers have got that in abundance with our fan bases.”We are a huge club commercially. Our fans are the lifeblood.

“If you couple that with the additional media revenue that might come with a new opportunity, we certainly would be a club to be reckoned with in any league in the world.”With Lawwell saying Celtic would consider any route that could lead to the English Premier League, manager Tony Mowbray said the issue was being spoken about within football circles.”It’s something our club would be interested in listening to of course,” he told BBC Sport. “Where do I think we are in a football context having had experience of the English Premier League?”Glasgow Celtic, and indeed our city rivals would fit into the Premier League pretty well.”

( BBC Sport )

Violence at end of Eastleigh football match
Southern Daily Echo
08 October 2009

A PLAYER went to shake hands with an opponent at the end of a local football match – and wound up with a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and facial cuts.The violence flared at the end of a match between the Swans and the Spartans at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Eastleigh, in January.The sides had been exchanging banter throughout the match, with Jody Hoare calling Sean Winters ‘Frodo’ because of his height.Prosecutor Eleanor Fargin told Southampton Crown Court that there had been no violence during the match, and at the final whistle Mr Winters went to shake hands with Hoare because he was the nearest player to him.However, without warning Hoare punched him in the face with a clenched fist, causing him to fall backwards and feel dazed, Ms Fargin told the courWhen teammates went to Mr Winters’ aid, Hoare said ‘Do you want some as well?’, she added.Ms Fargin added: “Hoare then changed his stance, approached Mr Winters to apologise and became quite emotional about what had happened.”Hoare, 29, of Leybourne Avenue, Southampton, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.He received 12 months’ supervision coupled with 200 hours’ community service. He was told to pay Mr Winters £750 compensation and was given a three-year football banning order.Judge Gary Burrell QC said that the offence merited an immediate jail sentence, but at the time Hoare was suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness for which he was now receiving medication.It was also out of character and he had expressed remorse.“You could easily have gone to prison today for 18 months,” the judge told Hoare.