SPL - McCoist: Old Firm will leave Scotland

PA Sport - Fri, 30 Oct 09:18:00 2009

Ally McCoist believes the Old Firm will join a North Atlantic league or the Premier League sooner rather than later.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Scottish Premier League Rangers Ally McCoist - 0

While the Rangers assistant boss' old Celtic foe Frank McAvennie told an ESPN press gathering in Belfast he could not see the two Scottish giants moving "in my lifetime", McCoist was much more optimistic.

Ahead of Sunday's SPL trip to Dundee United, McCoist said: "I think Rangers and Celtic need to be looking at the bigger picture. Currently, we are unable to compete financially with the likes of Wigan, Burnley, Hull City or Bolton. But, with respect, we are bigger clubs."

He added: "We cannot compete with the market those clubs offer. We need a piece of the action.

"There will be miles and miles of debate and it may be a distant way off but, realistically, the future of the Old Firm, in my opinion, lies elsewhere.

"I can only imagine most clubs in England, especially those in the Premier League, would reject the idea but I am optimistic it will happen.

"I would be more positive that a North Atlantic league might happen sooner - that would suit Rangers and Celtic.

"The days of signing the likes of Michael Laudrup, Tore Andre Flo, John Hartson and Chris Sutton are gone as far as Scottish football is concerned.

"I don't think it's a crime that clubs should want to better themselves and if it's in a new league then so be it."

PA Sport

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  1. Hibees for the league, St Johnstone for the cup and­­ Scotland for the world cup !! All dreams folks. At­­ least until the SPL is made larger so Rangers and­­ Celtic cant beat the lesser teams 3 or 4 times a­­ season.Restructure is the only way forward for­ Scottish­ football no doubt about it.None of this­ running away to­ the English leagues pee-ash, lets make­ Scottish­ football the priority eh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From S, on Mon 2 Nov 9:25AM

  2. How old is McCoist now? He looks older than my grandad­ who just turned 58.

    From arab4everandever, on Sat 31 Oct 8:24PM

  3. Shut up McCoist. You're boring us now. If your­ gonna leave just do it. Why don't you cross the­ Irish sea and become Larne Rangers? Take all the bigot­ scummy supporters with ya.

    From arab4everandever, on Sat 31 Oct 8:22PM

  4. Right fellow Celtic fans now is the time to get behind­ your team and support them, despite their inadequacy of­ the team not being in Europe and out the CIS. Mowbray­ needs to be given time and judged at the end of the­ season. If we can get Bis Samaras, McDonald and Fortune­ scoring we should win the league.

    If Ran sell their­ best players with any luck Hibs would be our biggest­ rivals. The league should not be about 2 teams being­ able to win so come on the so called bigger clubs like­ Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, Hibs and Hearts a more­ competitive Scottish league would only be a good­ thing. (Hopefully with us on top)

    We may not have the­ funds to have players like O'neil and Burns had in­ the past but we can still be best in Scotland and built­ for a last 16 in Europe every season. Mowbray’s style­ is brill just need the right players.

    From Berti, on Sat 31 Oct 7:18PM

  5. r.e 41 - Typical Celtic fan trying to make out that­ only one team in Glasgow has sectarian issues. It­ really amazes me how blinkered some of these idiots­ are.

    And also what you spout in your comment about­ Rangers, does that mean that Celtic will join the Irish­ league( Republic) as well then, after all that's­ where they've been signing most of their players­ from recently ?

    From Graeme, on Sat 31 Oct 4:07PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well done ALLY!!! I agree with you that it is now the­ end of the road for Scottish Football, they should hang­ up their boots and stop making a fool of themselves by­ losing every week, there is no money in Scorland and­ the players are rubbish. Their is only one possibility­ and that is to join the FEROE ISLANDS LEAGUES, you may­ win one or two games that way but forget about ever­ going South of the great wall as football is far too­ tough for you guys, soory but that is my expert opinion­ and the feeling of most EPL PLAYERS and SUPPORTERS!

    From Shwaiunshaba, on Sat 31 Oct 3:26PM

  7. let them join the northern irish league after all the­ sectarian bile that their fans spout is more relevant­ to a belfast housing estate thanmodern life in scotland­ or england!!!!!!!!!

    From d.mcarthur302, on Sat 31 Oct 2:29PM

  8. let them join the northern irish league after all the­ sectarian bile that their fans spout is more relevant­ to a belfast housing estate thanmodern life in scotland­ or england!!!!!!!!!

    From d.mcarthur302, on Sat 31 Oct 2:29PM

  9. The sooner the old firm leave the better!! All they are­ doing now is talking down the rest of the spl. What­ kind of crowds will the old firm get when they do leave­ as they are struggling to fill their stadiums at­ european matches at the moment!!

    From ALEXANDER K, on Sat 31 Oct 12:46PM

  10. o wise one speaks.....goodnite mr.@#$%.

    From Marty, on Fri 30 Oct 10:09PM

  11. It does'nt matter how you spell those little­ islands above you, just join them and they will teach­ you a lesson in football, goodnight losers!

    From Shwaiunshaba, on Fri 30 Oct 9:53PM

  12. Fat little git raving again.

    From Marty, on Fri 30 Oct 8:49PM

  13. C,mon the gers.

    From Gary S, on Fri 30 Oct 8:45PM

  14. Aztec if you believe that, he'll (ginger minger)­ believe anything? he fd/off the fortune page making out­ he's working. lol

    From Matthew, on Fri 30 Oct 8:41PM

  15. Pelters my ar-se ginger minger?

    From Matthew, on Fri 30 Oct 8:38PM

  16. AZTEC - I'm on the FORTUNE'S BACK page,­ slinging pelters at Matty-bhoy!! Heehee!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 30 Oct 5:31PM

  17. 30 - It's always like that on here.. Start at the­ bottom, and work your way down!! LOL!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 30 Oct 5:29PM

  18. Ginge how you doing ? my god its getting worse on here­ by the week LOL

    From aztectrooper35, on Fri 30 Oct 4:53PM

  19. Off my mash 20 u have to remember that susan Boyle is­ your new club mascot ! Seeing as u introduced her pre­ match the other week ! Oh i forgot u would,nt have seen­ that seen u have never been to paradise in your puff u­ bigoted wee imbicile !!

    From aztectrooper35, on Fri 30 Oct 4:51PM

  20. aztec if samaras misses any more chances like he did on­ wed i'll start to laugh myself

    From the azzurri, on Fri 30 Oct 4:30PM
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