An opportunity for Celtic and Rangers.
Wonderful.
Each of them can pick up £30 + million a year bonus.
The threat to the rest of Scottish football is obvious.
We have already seen 37 seasons of domination of the Premiership by two names.
With this new crock of gold each of the two clubs will have, what chance will any other club have to compete?
Duopolies acting against the public interest are illegal – and that is what we have in Scottish football.
There is a tiny glimmer of hope that Hearts might mount a challenge to, at a minimum, split the big two in the next couple of seasons.
But it is TINY.
If 37 reaches 40, there will need to be an off-the-pitch challenge to the Glasgow duopoly.
Yes.
Scottish football might need to be dragged through the courts to get the required
changes.
There are a number of changes that could be contemplated. For example – and in no particular order:
* sharing ALL European competition participation fees/prize money between all of the clubs in the Premiership.
* a Rugby League style end to the Premiership season, with winners and European tournament participation decided on a knock out basis.
* sharing of home gate revenues, including season ticket receipts.
* increasing the number of clubs in the Premiership, moving to two matches per season played between each club.
* charging SPFL membership fees on a graduated basis, with the top two Premiership clubs each potentially paying £10 million + per season for membership, varying depending on the number of seasons they have spent in 1st or 2nd position.
* a handicap system in the Premiership, with winners and 2nd facing an increasing “penalty”, based on the number of consecutive seasons they have been winners /runners up.
There may well be other possible solutions and a combination will almost certainly be needed.
Some will claim that Celtic and Rangers will never accept such changes.
In all probability that is correct, if the matter is left to be voluntary.
Which is why the changes will almost certainly need to be imposed, potentially by the courts.
Some will also say that the two Glasgow clubs might leave the Premiership.
So be it.
Better to have the remaining Premiership clubs genuinely contesting the league title, rather than continuing with the current awful two horse race.
It’s Time for Change – and whilst Hearts supporters can still have the Dream of winning the league for a couple of seasons more, Scottish football cannot sleepwalk towards 50 consecutive seasons of there being only two names on the Premiership roll of honour.
One way or another, the duopoly MUST end.
If you have other ideas for changes that could end the duopoly, please drop me a line at ron@rondelnevo.com.
The more ideas for discussion, the better!
Time is short. 40 seasons, in my eyes, is the line in the sand as far as ending the duopoly is concerned.
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