30 Apr 2009

O'Neill keen on Old Firm joining Premier League

6:00 pm on 30 April 2009

Aston Villa's manager Martin O'Neill has added his support to plans for the Scottish football giants Celtic and Rangers to play in the English Premier League.

Bolton's chairman Phil Gartside has proposed that the Premier League create a second division, including the 'Old Firm'.

O'Neill won three Scottish titles and three Scottish FA Cups while in charge of Celtic for five years from 2000 and believes such a move would benefit the Glasgow clubs and the Premier League.

He says Glasgow is a phenomenal football city, with the Celtic ground housing 60,000 fans and Rangers' 50,000.

However, the proposal is likely to face strong opposition in Scotland as Celtic-Rangers matches are big money makers and a major financial drawcard in negotiations for Scottish Premier League televsion rights.