SCOTTISH GIANTS CELTIC and RANGERS They could compete in the English Football League when the divisions are set to be reformed in the 2019-20 season. It was announced in May, that a fifth division is set to be included in the Football League, which would represent one of the biggest changes seen in English football. With the number of league clubs set to expand to 100, the door could be open for the two sides to play their football south of the Scottish border http://www.the42.ie/celtic-rangers-football-league-england-2954536-Aug2016/
These ideas keep surfacing for about 20 years now, but I don't think it will ever happen. English clubs have to want Celtic and Rangers, and so far they don't. From my personal perspective, I'm not sure I want it either. I like to watch these two clubs, but I also like Scottish league in general including their smaller clubs. I wouldn't want Scottish league to be stripped off top clubs.
They certainly have the pedigree but I seriously doubt they could compete in the Prem. They might do well, especially Celtic, in the Championship but that's about it, initially. Scottish football just hasn't been very good in recent years.
This has nothing to do with the PL; its about revamping the English Football League. They would start in League Three and work themselves up like everybody else.
There's no such league as League Three. Do you think Celtic and Rangers would want to spend at least three seasons playing lower level English clubs, especially considering Rangers already had to do that in Scotland? To use comparison against a common opponent in UEFA competitions, Celtic reached the Champions League Group Stage with a 5:4 aggregate win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Hapoel Be'er Sheva played two draws against Southampton in the Europa League Group Stage, and Hapoel Be'er Sheva won the head-to-head away goals tiebreaker for second, eliminating Southampton (Sparta Prague was first and Inter Milan was last). Southampton is doing worse than last season in the Premier League, but they're still 11th and 10 points above the regelation zone. If Celtic is better than Southampton, Celtic would have no problem avoiding relegation.
Clubs such as Rangers or Celtic would not drop to the third division (League 2 BTW). They would be foolish to pay such a price and still handle a first division payroll. It would be financial suicide. As to an Israeli side having success against run of the mill Prem team, all I can say is that a few years ago the US National team was up 2 nil against Brazil at the half in the Confederations Cup after having beaten Spain. Serious contenders for the World Cup? In my dreams! A good result on occasion doesn't mean that it would be dupicated for an entire season. Lead striker for Celtic is Mousse Dembele who is scoring lights out in Scottish football yet only managed 10 goals for Fulham last season. Yes he is young and learning but to almost triple his out put? Says a lot about the competition. I maintain that Rangers would be mid table and Celtic would likely contend for a playoff spot in the Championship. Of course, being in those leagues would compel each team to revamp their squads. Who REALLY knows?
Regardless of whether they would start in the fourth or fifth highest level in England, would Celtic and Rangers be willing to give up several seasons of being in the top level in their league system?
Does "everybody else" include the National League clubs the Old Firm would cut the queue in front of?
I can't see it happening but it would add another dimension to the Premier League assuming they got that far, Rangers aren't really the force they were before their troubles.
It's not just that but Celtic are pretty much guaranteed a shot at the Champions League via qualification every season in the SPL, assuming they qualify for the group stages which they usually do it's good money and prestige for them.
The last time Celtic didn't reach the Champions League qualifying rounds was 2011-2012 because they finished 1 point behind Rangers in the 2010-2011 Scottish Premier League. In 2012-2013 they beat Helsingborg 4-0 on aggregate in the Playoff Round. In the four Playoff Rounds from 2013-2014 through 2016-2017, Celtic's aggregate has been decided by 1 goal every time, with Celtic winning twice and losing twice. They have a better chance at reaching the Group Stage in Scotland than in England, but it's not like they're guaranteed to reach the Group Stage now.
Well, Celtic already has bigger revenue than almost all Championship clubs, so I think they'd be very competitive there and probably make the Premier league sooner or later. And when they do that, their revenue would go through the roof. Premier league TV money + much bigger sponsorship revenue + merchandize + they'd be able to charge much more for tickets, etc. They would have full stadiums and some of the biggest crowds in the Premier league. Similar with Rangers, except they are a bit restricted right now in their revenue streams.