The discussion of Celtic entering the English Premier League has become a hot topic again.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has shared that when he was in the Selhurst Park boardroom in 2002. and the idea of Celtic becoming an English Premier League side was discussed, he was ‘for it’.
Fast forward to the present, now a pundit on talkSPORT, the English businessman still hasn’t changed his idea, although, he thinks both Glasgow clubs would have to pay a significant amount of money, upward of ‘£70 million’ to enter the English football pyramid.
Celtic are Scottish football’s biggest club, so for the Premiership to lose that presence, alongside its rivals, would be damaging to the whole pyramid.
That was touched upon by Simon Jordan and how it would ‘kill Scottish football’, but along with Graeme Souness, he would still like to see it happen, as he told talkSPORT.
One topic that was highlighted was the Champions League and how the likes of Celtic and Rangers just haven’t been able to cut it in Europe’s elite competition.
But, of course, with the money the Premier League brings to the table, then it would allow the club to spend like crazy, on the biggest of stars and push to win a European trophy again.
Either way, Simon Jordan admitted that he wouldn’t be against it and he shared how it could all unfold, but he admitted certain teams wouldn’t want to make way for either Celtic or Rangers.
Celtic and Rangers in the English Premier League
“It would kill Scottish football, though, wouldn’t it,” responded Jordan to Celtic and Rangers joining the Premier League.
“In order for these teams to cross the rubicon in Europe, where Celtic and Rangers want to pitch themselves and they want to have success. They are getting flung out of the Champions League without getting any points.
“When it was originally mooted (in 2002), I was for it. I am not sure Celtic and Rangers should just walk into the Premier League. I am more inclined to suggest, and it’s a difficult one because you have to work out how it all drops down, because if you bring two teams in, then you will have to lose two teams out of the pyramid somewhere No-one is going volunteer from the Premier League to step aside. No-one is going to volunteer from the Championship.
On five or six maybe voting for Celtic and Rangers to come into the PL: “It depends on the economics they bring. If there was an economic return. My outlook was, the value of Celtic and Rangers, if they came into English football, would triple because of the economics. Not just talking about the partizan nature of the fanbase that is around the world and how sizeable these clubs are in the hearts and minds of many different people.
“I would make them pay £50, 60, 75 million each to come in somewhere like the Championship. That would give the Championship an immediate £150 million boost that would be shared between the clubs. Somewhere down the line, you would find a solution that would let them in. I wouldn’t be adverse to it.”
Celtic in the Champions League
The Bhoys have dominated on the domestic stage for over a decade now and the talk amongst fans has been about how the club can take that next step in Europe.
Money, the lack of ambition and transfer activity has been a huge talking point. You can bet your bottom dollar if Celtic had Premier League money, then there would be zero issues.
Those big-name stars would arrive and it would allow the fans to dream again on the European stage.
But a lot, and a serious amount, of things need to happen for such an idea to become a reality. Some would argue that with the growing money in the game, it could become likely in these coming years, but talk is cheap.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
