(Welcome to life after Old Firm)
Kevin Mcallion
THREE o’clock on a warm May afternoon and fans across the country are glued to their trannies as a nail-biting day of title drama starts to unfold.
With just 90 minutes left in a tense season, four teams are battling for the championship .
And the only certainty is that the trophy’s destination won’t be Glasgow.
At this point fans usually wake up biting their pillow but such a scenario may not be too far fetched if Scottish football boots out the Old Firm.
MailSport was first with the news that SPL clubs were plotting to ditch the giants last week and columnist Gordon Waddell has been a long-term advocate of a breakaway league.
The 10 other clubs took a massive step into the unknown last Monday when they resigned from the SPL and a new league will be set-up in two years – with or without the Old Firm.
The squabble over TV revenue has widened the massive divide and life minus Rangers and Celtic remains a distinct possibility.
But how would Scottish football shape up without its biggest and best players?If the Old Firm had been absent from the SPL this season the title race would have been one of the closest in years.
In our revised league table only a handful of points split Aberdeen at the top from Dundee United in seventh and the chase would go to the wire.
Celtic and Rangers haven’t let go of the league flag since 1984 and this year the gulf in class has been bigger than ever with Aberdeen the only side to record an Old Firm victory.
Dons were the last team to mount a serious league challenge back in 1991 but repeating such a feat is impossible in the current financial climate.
Chairman Keith Wyness believes Old Firm dominance has crushed the life from our football.
And the Pittodrie supremo reckons fans would prefer a league without them.
He said: “Supporters have been missing exciting games until the end of the season. A competitive league would create a buzz that has been missing far too long.
“Aberdeen were the last team to challenge right to the final day and at half-time at Ibrox we were tied on points and goal difference. It would be great to have such excitement again.
“We have no fear of life without the Old Firm. It would be terrific for everybody if we had an exciting league and the chance to get into the Champions League.
“I’m already anticipating having a look at the Real Madrid boardroom.”
A major worry about a breakaway league is that crowds would slump without the Old Firm travelling support but Wyness believes a competitive set up would have the punters queuing.
And he claims a large number of Aberdeen fans have actually been frightened away from matches involving the Glasgow giants.
Wyness said: “We’ve been trying to bring many more families to games but when Rangers and Celtic come up they stay away. A mother with kids doesn’t want to be in an environment like that.” Even if attendances remain relatively unaffected, clubs would be forced into huge cost-cutting in a bid to survive without Rangers and Celtic.
Massive debts have been racked up trying to compete with the Old Firm and it’s only in the past few seasons that clubs have started to slash wage bills.
Motherwell have ditched top stars and opted for youth and boss Eric Black reckons it’s the only way Scottish clubs can survive
He said: “I knew there would have to be cuts but didn’t realise it would be to this degree.
“You can’t continue paying players at a certain level if there’s no money. Teams would have to use youngsters – then we might develop the level of Scottish football.”
Dunfermline have suffered most against the Old Firm this term and in seven matches conceded 29 goals.
You’d think the Pars would be glad to see the back of the big two but Barry Nicholson reckons the league would be a poorer place.
He said: “You want to play against the best and that would disappear if Rangers and Celtic left the league.”
But Baz admits their loss would be compensated by the chance to battle for the league title and a glamour place in Europe.
Players Union chief Fraser Wishart finally believes Scottish football could prosper if young players are given the chance to develop in a new league.
He said: “Clubs now realise investing in youth is the best option and it’s long overdue.”
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