Rangers and Celtic in the English FA Cup?

[M.O.B.E]

FA Cup Entry for Glasgow Rangers and Celtic

From Bill Hutchison,

Your Guide to World Soccer.

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Evolution Not Big Bang

The 'Old Firm' - Scottish soccer's mighty two-some - Glasgow Rangers and Celtic have grown too big and too successful to remain in the Scottish Premier League and are looking to move south into the more competitive and more financially rewarding English Premiership.

At the moment soccer power-politics prevent a perfectly sensible idea coming to fruition.

No chairman of a small EPL club will vote the Scots in, if it means his club runs a risk of being kicked downstairs to the Championship league and UEFA, european soccer's governing body, would have to be cajoled into giving their consent - but for the English Premier League as an entity, the inclusion of two clubs that each average home attendances of 50,000 and command global fan bases numbered in millions, must be a highely attractive proposition.

The marketing opportunities and TV viewing figures created by Rangers vs Liverpool and Celtic vs Manchester United matchups would be collosal. Money would flow into the EPL coffers.

Clubs could reduce debts and the EPL could use some of the extra revenue to provide a financial 'cushion' to the clubs rangers and Celtic displaced.

There is no doubt that when Rangers and Celtic leave the Scottish Premier League, the remaining Scottish clubs will suffer financially - but with no need to stretch budgets to breaking point in an attempt to compete with the big two, a more balanced and competitive league would emerge.

And Rangers and Celtic need not abandon the ship altogether. Following the european model, they could could enter their first reserve team in the SPL.

But there is an other way.

Instead of a Big Bang entry into the EPL, Rangers and Celtic could take an evolutionary path - and seek to enter the FA Cup.

The precedent does exist.

In 1887, Glasgow Rangers played in the English FA Cup, going out to Aston Villa, the eventual winners in the semi-final round.

And Rangers aren't the only Scottish club to have taken part in the competition. In 1871-1872, Queen's Park entered the first ever F.A. Challenge Cup and subsequently Third Lanark, Cowlairs, Renton and Partick Thistle all took part.

If Rangers and Celtic started their southern drift by playing in the FA Cup for several seasons, it would allow both clubs to test themselves regularly against top-quality English opposition, add value to the FA Cup and allow the EPL to assess the benefits of allowing the pair to enter the league.

The Coronation Cup of 1953 - a celebratory competition involving four Scottish clubs, Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian and Rangers, and four English clubs - Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur - was won by Celtic.

Could Celtic be the winning FA Cuo finalists of 2006?

That really would add romance to the cup.