The first post-old firm SPFL season would be the biggest fan turnout in Scottish football for decades because literally any team could win it.

A UK League cup would be good and it would raise it's profile.

What if there was a Community Shield-like tournament where the champions of the four Home Nations compete? Could be a first step, so that there can technically be a "Champion of the UK"

The Premier League will never allow the old firm into the premier league for a number of reasons. Firstly UEFA are highly unlikely to give a British league more European places, this will mean it will be harder for existing premier league teams to get into Europe. Especially the champions league. Secondly the teams towards the bottom of the premier league will object to the fact that they are either more likely to get relegated (if the league stays at 20) or further from the top six if the league is expanded to 22. Thirdly their is the possibility of Scottish Independence in the future, although this is unlikely this would cause issues, also Scotland has an existing different legal and democratic framework which may cause competition issues. Lastly given the amounts of money involved and the quality of the premier league Rangers and Celtic would most likely spend their time mid table or possibly even be relegated. Given that the fan bases of both teams have only ever been huge fish in a small pond expected to win every game, ending up like a Sheffield Wednesday or Sunderland might not lead to much long term appeal, especially losing their regular European games.

They should’ve done it slower in the early 2000’s. Maybe started with a British Super Cup. Premier League winner versus SPFL winner as a season curtain raiser. In the League Cup invite a few wildcards from Scotland. These would’ve been the cautious steps to slowly bed it in.

Anyone that says “we don’t want them” are only scared of what they’ll become

Obviously a British League Cup would involve a chaotic set of fixtures in the early rounds, with small teams travelling huge distances to play other small teams in games that would get little coverage. How about have it so that the early rounds are regionalized, but then at a certain round the draw 'opens up' to all teams. This would recreate the excitement we get in the FA Cup 3rd round draw. Yes, there would still be long trips for small clubs, but at least there'd potentially be more prize/TV money at stake for them. And I get the argument of "What's the point, English teams would invariably win". That's probably true, but even though the same teams win the FA Cup we still cherish the shocks and stories along the way.

Loved the video, great breakdown and made some great points for all parties

Best idea I can come up with is splitting League 2 into a Northern and Southern Division by merging it with the SPL (Barrow, Morecambe, Harrogate Town, Bradford City, Accrington Stanley & Salford City compete in SPL or BLN [British League North] I guess), obviously this would require an agreement for allowing clubs to move based on location requirements for the National League and Scottish Championship by having overflow spots available through promotion of the top 3 sides from the National League plus the winner of a playoff being promoted up (no relegation for 1 season) Based on how this season is currently sitting using a merged system for promotion: Celtic, Stockport County and Notts County are automatically promoted to League 1, with Wrexham vs. St. Mirren & Rangers vs. Mansfield Town in the playoff. I'd expect Rangers to win this play-off, but it feels like it should be offered. Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town, Fleetwood Town & Reading are all relegated down and join these newly merged leagues alongside the promoted teams of Chesterfield, Barnet and Dundee United. The final spot will go to the winner of a playoff between Raith Rovers vs. Solihull Moors and Bromley vs. the winner of Patrick Thistle vs. Altrincham. No clue who would win here, Raith Rovers I think should edge it. This would create 2 group with the BLS (British League South) consisting of Chesterfield, Reading, Cheltenham Town, Barnet, Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham, Swindon Town, AFC Wimbledon, MK Dons, Doncaster Rovers, Crawley Town, Walsall, Newport County, Colchester United, Forest Green Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Sutton United + 3 teams determined by playoff results. The BLN (British League North) would consist of Kilmarnock, Dundee, Motherwell, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Livingston, Aberdeen, Ross County, St Johnstone, Barrow, Morecambe, Harrogate Town, Bradford City, Accrington Stanley, Carlisle United, Fleetwood Town + 3 teams determined by playoff results. Any further down effects should be fine as Scottish League 1 and the National League can just prevent a relegation to maintain the numbers needed if they get too few teams and have some flexibility when it comes to adding extra teams if needed. There is a risk of too many relegations to the National League (given I'd expect the likes of Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen to be able to move up to L1) but I think clubs like Gateshead and Hartlepool United may end up requesting to transfer into the SPL Divisions and a rework slowly down the pyramid would soon make this obsolete.

Ranger and Celtic would have a couple of rough years, but with English TV revenue, they’d be very competitive

Dude, for your subscriber count this video is nuts. A fascinating watch, and very, very well done. Nice one!

This was an excellent video. Very insightful. I've subscribed.

I like the idea of how you would get them into the league system basically having the spl and the championship on the same level and the winner of the spl going into the playoff just curious how the relgation of the prem clubs would happen cus if celtic win league then win playoffs they would leave the spl so and 3 English clubs would go down so the championship would suddenly have 25 clubs and the spl would have 11 clubs so like does the whole league system have to change do they have to stick in a rule where like there's 4 relations from the championship if a Scottish club wins the play offs does 1 more club have to come up in every league in Scotland everything this happens in order to balance the leagues out up there

I am Scottish. I do not want the Old Firm to join the EPL. It would maje everyone think Scotland was a part of England. And if we created a British League merger, then all the trophies the English clubs had won would be counted as equal to the British trophies. While all the Scottish trophies would be seen as non-league status trophies. So Man Utd would be on 20 titles, Celtic, Aberdeen, and Rangers would be classified as having won zero titles. My preference is a best of both worlds where we keep our domestic leagues, and European qualification, but also have extra cross border cups with Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Northern Irish, French, MLS, Durch, and Belgian club sides. Like the way Scotland allows Northern Irish and Welsh sides in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Keep Scotland v England club sides as a exciting novelty. As an Aberdeen fan I would love some competitve games against English sides, but forty times a season with 20, 1000 mile trips a season would be too much. Lets have 3 strong leagues in Great Britain not just one. If the English really want to help Celtic soccer, then let us keep our own leagues, but have cross border cups with the British, Irish, French, and MLS sides.

Excellently thought through and presented video 👍👏

I like how Scotland has Berwick in its league. Scotland is a country with it's own league.

There’s also the fact if Celtic & Rangers were to be shoe horned into the premier league it would surely mean that 2 of 3 clubs from the championship would have to be told sorry you’re not being promoted Celtic & Rangers are taking your place can’t you just see the legal action the 2 championship clubs would take!

another great video essay, i actually had an idea to incorporate 5 spl clubs into the system which i don't think most will like but it would allow the spl and the prem to become more competitive. as the prem and EFL are technically separate entities i think the PL could create a tier below the PL of 20 teams,

There was a deal done around the time abranovitch got Chelsea. Both rangers and Celtic would start in the championship, neither would be allowed to be promoted in the first season and only one could be promoted in the second season . The old firm agreed but the championship teams voted against it .

I saw a video,last week,on here from 20 years ago that said it was DEFINITELY,about to happen.... 20 years later.....

How would all the English clubs below the PL striving to get into the PL feel about a few clubs in Scotland jumping the queue? Never going to happen.

We really should have a UK wide Football League system. Would allow all clubs in the country to play teams of similar levels and give smaller clubs in the devolved nations more exposure and money. It’s a win win really

Great video. I liked the argument about investment in the Scottish teams, that a potential pathway to a UK top flight would provide much greater incentive to invest in Scottish football. Sooner or later someone is going to establish a cross-border league somewhere - it might be the Baltic countries, Belgium and Netherlands, or someone else - and then the process here may accelerate.

One question about your playoff idea. So 2 teams get direct promotion to the EPL. But in the playoff, the Scottish champion might get promoted. But from the EPL 3 teams get relegated. Which leaves the Champioship with 25 teams. Beacuse instead of maybe the 4th placed going up in the playoff, Celtic got the spot. How do you fix this?

I think Scottish teams would get a lot more money and would rise quickly so Overall a good idea for them I understand they like there League being for Scottish teams and that’s fair

Let them in, guaranteed 6 points every season.

In the 1990s the Unibond League became the only league in Britain to contain English, Welsh and Scottish membership. Grenta, Caernarfon Town and Colwyn Bay played in the same division with English clubs. There is actually a legal precedent.

I was going to watch the video, but ONE MINUTE into the video I started falling asleep, at noon! Good luck with your posts mate👍

Rangers and Celtic instantly become the biggest derby in England if they join. Cardiff and Swansea are in the English League System, there’s no reason who The Old Firm can’t. And don’t start with the “Glasgow is too far away”. Spanish clubs have to fly to Tenerife every week.

I think you would have to merge the EPL with the Scottish league, and see if Scottish teams can qualify .I don't think any team should have preference.

Really good video, well done

Good video but I would have to question the fairness of such a system, say the play-off final is Sunderland vs Celtic, Sunderland would have had to get results against teams like Leicester and Leeds in a 24 team league to get into that position, Celtic would have to contend with Livingston and Ross county in a 12 team league, not exactly the same feat.

I am 68 and this has been talked about all my life. It will not happen, ever. It’s not even on the agenda.

Celtic fan, I wouldn't want us to play in England as tradition is more important that money. If scottish football league wants to improve their financial wealth they have to get creative, things like summer football would make the TV deal more competitive. Attendances would probably be better as it's not cold as siberia.

Make a North Britain League - add Middlesboro and Sunderland to the Scottish Premier League. Expand to 14 teams. Better attendance for the League plus almost 50% chance of European competition for Sunderland and Middlesboro

Celtic and Rangers get to play in European football tournaments every year. If they joined with the english league they would kiss goodbye to this.

I’m English and would love to see the Old Firm compete in the Premier League. However, I think you would see another push for the European Super League as a result. The EPL is already the most lucrative and viewed league in the world and adding the Old Firm would up the ante considerably. Passionate crowds draw Tv attention, that’s why NUFC were the most broadcast team outside the “top 6” under Ashley’s reign, despite being utter dogshit at the time. Having more games with a rocking crowd means more attention and more money. The Euro leagues, already struggling, would cack their collective pants and push harder for the super league. IMO.

The Premier League would never allow it. I am an Englishman. I have no qualms with it happening. If I was a Scot I'd be angry if I was a fan of any other team than Rangers or Celtic. The argument about the standard of Rangers / Celtic would be moot within a few seasons. Because once established into the PL they would get a lot of more cash and be able to sign bigger players and so forth. I just think the Premier League is in a very strong position. It doesn't need to bargain or show leverage to anyone right now. It would only make itself look slightly weaker if it were to allow foreign teams in and then proceed to lose the league to one of those. I just think, realistically it will never happen.

Brilliant video essay!

some great point mate good video

What would happen with relegation in the playoff scenario? I.e Celtic win the spl And the playoffs to get into the epl. Then come bottom in the epl. Do they go down to the championship? Or back to the spl? How does that effect the other leagues in both england and scotland? If teams can earn promotion from spl to epl, but get relegated to the english championship the numbers arent going to add up and some clubs are going to get royally shafted.

Loch Ness has a greater volume of water than all the lakes in England put together,

Class video!

Adding them to the 2 Cup system(FA and EFL cup) can be a great idea as a testing ground.

When Rangers and Celtic are not winning each week, the support melts away.

I think if they come South they should start in the Championship. If they can get out then they can hold their heads up. Stops the embarrassment of relegation first time around also.

Even as a Celtic fan the idea that our first move to English football would ever be the Premier League is quite laughable. If - IF they were ever to invite us we'd be starting from the bottom and rightfully so. Personally I don't want it. All I want is for Sky to stop disrespecting us with their derisory TV deals and for Neil Doncaster to fuck off and stop selling our game to the first bidder. They also don't televise enough of the games they should be televising. Only showing Celtic and Rangers matches when it's always the same shit 11 men in the other team trying to defend their box. Show Hearts vs Hibs. Aberdeen vs Dundee Utd. Ross County vs St Johnstone and I guarantee you'll soon start respecting Scottish football that bit more when you see two teams who actually have a chance against one another if they go and have a go rather than just getting slaughtered by teams that most probably actually belong at a bigger league if only to balance things out a bit up here. Other than that I enjoyed the video lol and when I say respecting the game up here i mean Sky because clearly you have a high regard for the Scottish leagues by your video.

I remember reading that teams aren't allowed to play in another country's league. All the teams that do are long standing arrangements from the foundation of the leagues, eg Welsh clubs in England, Monaco in France and Berwick in Scotland. In addition, other than TV companies, who in England would want the Scottish teams playing in English football? Clubs sell out their grounds anyway, so no financial benefit, plus the likelihood of major outbreaks of violence every week, wouldn't make it a great sell.

Would love a British Premier League Rangers vs Man United Liverpool vs Celtic Brilliant and the Welsh and Irish Teams are welcome with me.

If Celtic and Rangers move down South, it'll be far better for our leagues and cups, as the Old Firm won't win everything.

Any combination of SPL and EPL and EFL and SFL is complex and frought with practical and political difficulties. Perhaps the simplest "solution" is to intoduce a "British Cup" competition replacing existing "League cup" compettions where all exiting Scottish and English teams are entered and drawn at random. Then you could get examples as say Arsenal vs Inverness or Man City vs Hearts etc etc . Give it a few seasons and see how it goes .

If Celtic and rangers go, it won’t be the same

The only way I can see this happening with it causing the least disruption possible would be for Celtic and Rangers to have the option of starting in one of the lower leagues, like League 2 or even the National League. They could add one of them each year and just have an extra relegation spot for whichever league they join and for the leagues below for 2 seasons, so they don’t have extra teams. The extra teams to get relegated could then receive a parachute payment as compensation because it is somewhat unfair on them. This way the lower leagues will get more revenue and interest, the teams in those leagues will get higher ticket sales when they play Celtic and Rangers (although they will also have more competition for a couple of seasons) and the 2 Scottish teams will have the chance to eventually play in the EPL if they’re good enough after taking a hit for a few years. If they’re not good enough, then starting them out in the EPL will only lead to them getting relegated anyway, so won’t make a difference either way.

Rangers were not demoted they were liquidated and had to start as a new club

I like the idea of the Scottish Champion going into the playoff

Not wanting Celtic and Rangers in the premier league is not fear. Letting Scottish clubs in would be at the expense of English clubs. Why would we want this? It’s hard to imagine that Scottish clubs as a whole would benefit the English leagues.

There was a window during which this might have happened but it’s long since closed. Rangers and especially Celtic have a worldwide support that only best English clubs would historically have been able to match. This would have been very appealing 20 years ago. The PL now has more money than it knows what to do with and the Glasgow clubs aren’t worth the hassle. Cross border leagues probably will happen in future, but it won’t be limited to the UK, because the financial power of the PL is strangling European leagues too.

Celtic vs Leeds in the playoff final? I'll fly from the US and buy tickets for that match myself! ✊🏻

actually i read of an idea of combining the Dutch and Belgian leagues and that would be awesome!

Really good video and well researched. Highlights the issues well. The gap between Scotlands Shame and the rest of the league is so big and so damaging, yet, they couldn’t compete with the English leagues so why leave. However, the main thing is, UEFA wouldn’t like it. If they allowed it, it could open the floodgates for teams like Ajax to join the Bundesliga, Olympiakos to join Serie A etc. It wont happen.

I would love to see Celtic and Rangers in the EPL. It would give them a far higher revenue. It would also make the keague more fair. We always know Celtic or Rangers will win the SPL.

I think it makes more sense to change the Carabao cup to the British Cup where they do like a champs league format featuring teams from Wales, Ireland, NI, and Scotland and it would be the top 10 teams from all respective leagues. It just makes more sense and a less overhaul of a league structure

Impressive video. I am a NewCastle fan that lives in the USA, but I do think Celtic and Rangers are class teams, and would be good fun to watch them in the Premier League. Great job my friend!!

I think celtic and rangers would do okay in the PL. Not giants, but contenders for the 10th-12th place spots.

Ok where should the winners of Wales league enter the league League 2 or National League playoffs?

I think the fa Cup/ League Cup for all British teams to compete. He'll I'd like to see all the spl welsh prem and Irish prem. Combined in the football league. I think it would save the lower levels with lots of money coming in as well as letting bigger team outside of England make their name

I think it could be a good idea, just look at the example of the United States and Canada in Sports Leagues. In fact, I believe that Scottish teams can play in their league and in the English leagues.

They’d need to be introduced into league one or championship. Cause otherwise they’d get slaughtered in the premier league. Wouldn’t be able to cope with the change of pace and overall league quality.

kilmarnock are the southernmost team in the spfl most years is as easy to get to as glasgow and has a stadium as big as kennilworth road they be a good shout I think, (a killie fan)

It wasn't just Rangers being relegated - Aberdeen and Hibernian were going through bad times and Rangers relegation was followed two years later by Hearts being relegated. None of those 3 clubs made the Top 6 the season AFTER Rangers relegation. - The problem in Scotland is the insistence on divisions of 12,10,10 and 10 clubs when 16, 16 and 16 would make much more sense {just promote the top 3 from the Highland and Lowland Leagues into that new third tier}. a 30 game season where Hearts, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock etc. only have to face Rangers and Celtic twice each and therefore a WIN against either is significantly more effective points wise.

Rangers and Celtic have fanbases worldwide that can only really be matched by Liverpool and Manchester United .. pair that with EPL level TV and Sponsor money and it would be a big problem for English teams

Ball Boy i would like the EFL to rebrand the EFL Cup and invite the 42 SPFL clubs to join the 92 Clubs from England in the EFL Cup, maybe rename it British League Cup. That would make it 134 clubs which would most likely be an extra Round or 2 rounds with the Final at Wembley Stadium.

When it's done I think the best way would be to have a rangers and Celtic academy team join the lowest level north west league they can. If that's level 11 North West Counties Division One North or a even lower Cumbrian league. Eventually the teams will switch so Rangers Academy tops League 1 and then Rangers Academy plays in the Scottish Prem and Rangers play in the EFL Championship

No chance and No thanks

No way . Don't want them.

Wait what leagues would some of the Scottish clubs be in as a start?

One matter not considered is that of European football. The Old Firm are currently nailed on to play some form of European football each season, whilst at the same time they're greatly hindered by not having the finances of the top EPL clubs - largely due to not having their TV revenue. The Old Firm could find themselves playing in the EPL without European football, or as I think is more likely, they would be regularly qualifying for European competitions - in which case this would affect the number of English clubs qualifying for European football. Finally, there is always the possibility of a league being set up made up of the top clubs in the nations outside of England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and possibly Portugal.

What about opening the FA or Carabao Cup to all teams from the British Isles? (Ireland and Scotland included) more games for the organizers and more visibility for the teams outside the english pyramid

You need to get your facts correct mate. Rangers were never demoted, the old rangers club was liquidised and ceased to exist. The new rangers that was formed then had to apply to join the scottish league system.

There have been rumours of this since I was in primary school, I'm now 38 years old, never gonna happen. Makes no sense for Rangers or Celtic to give up European football just to end up in the Championship.

Why does the video keep re-uploading

Scrap the existing league cups and combine them, bringing in the Welsh and NI national leagues if they want it. While we're at it, have pre-qualifiers for Gib, Channel Island, Isle of Mann and other crown dependencies too.

Bournemouth away at Ross county’s gonna be fun

Same for la liga with porto sporting and benfica.😊

SCOTS WANTING A CUT OF THE ENGLISH PIE, NOTHING NEW THERE 😮

I'd hate it, fuck needing to travel from Glasgow to London etc for an away day, and vice versa for fans from England.

Make the PL 22 teams and decide the extra 2 teams as follows. 2 automatic championship promotions spots in year before expansion as normal 3rd - 5th + SPL runners up in playoffs. (Runners up move to championship if they don’t win) SPL champions + 19th in PL one off game, winner gets PL spot. Looser gets championship spot 18th placed team stay in PL. 4 promotions, 2 coming down meaning PL expands but championship doesn’t and can accommodate 2 extra teams in the pyramid, while also ensuring someone gets to the PL on merit. (Or the old firm could just share the money and help grow their own league)

I would like to hear from some of the supporters of clubs in the SPL (not Celtic of Rangers). I would like to think they would be excited at the prospect of winning their league not fighting for third and fourth positions.

Create a North of Britain and a South Britain league. Top league of 18, with top 4 from each league entering into a playoff for the league champion. Final game rotates between Wembley, Hampden and Millennium Stadium.

I thought that Uefa had said that clubs wil not be allowed to play in foriegn leagues... but that those who already do could stay (i.e. swansea, cardiff). The only way it could happen is if there is a british league.. and a british national team (i.e. no scotland, wales, england or n.ireland national teams). I don't think this will happen.

That would be absolutely catastrophic for slightly smaller clubs, what happens to mf Hibs??

The only reason they would do it is if they thought it would make money. I think if done the clubs should have to earn promotion. Why should two English clubs be kicked out of the Premier League to let Rangers and Celtic in?

People often don't realise that the "Football League" was never meant to just cover England. The founder wanted Scottish teams in it. In the early days of the FA Cup Scottish and Irish clubs entered. I know my local team (in England), hosted Queens Park and Cliftonville in the FA Cup. I absolutely think we should have a league covering at least Great Britain or indeed the UK as a whole if the Northern Irish clubs want it too. In my mind you'd have a British pyramid with the top two divisions fully national and then splitting regionally. Far larger countries than the UK have national Leagues. We have precedent for Scottish football in English football, Gretna did so until joining the SPL, we have Berwick doing the opposite. Welsh teams are entitled to, and do, play in England and vice versa. I totally support it. We should run football for the benefit of as many clubs as possible, not to perpetuate old enpires.

You would have to integrate the Scottish leagues into the English leagues to create a fair playing field of a UK league. Throw any Irish or Welsh leagues into the mix also. You can't just pick and choose certain teams without weakening the existing leagues by their absence.

Lad Celtic n rangers would be class in the football league would be sick

I suppose you don't even have to cut the sixth side in the chamionship playoffs, just run it like the club world cup where there is an extra game 6th vs SPL Champ.

The idea of having Scottish teams in a combined League (or Leagues) Cup isn't going to do very much as it will not provide enough income to permit Scottish teams to compete on a level financial playing field. A combination of the leagues to form a British league would work (given time) but I doubt if anyone would approve of this as we all know that there would be an overwhelming reaction from abroad demanding a combined UK team at international level. Do we want the end of England, N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales as international teams? I don't think so, and to be fair, they'd have a point.

You’ll never get the Scottish leagues to agree to that. Anything that stops old firm derbies will be voted down. The only way they’ll want in the EPL is being shoe horned in without qualification and the EPL will never agree to that.

Make it into a British 🇬🇧 PL if we have teams from the other side of the border or give the Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SPL more money 💴.

One solution for the Scottish game to raise its profile that I’ve always liked (though is very unlikely) is the idea of a combine Celtic premier league. The league would probably be majority Scottish clubs, but would also include some of the biggest Irish clubs, perhaps a couple Northern Irish clubs, and a few Welsh clubs (maybe the ones which compete in the English league system). Obviously there are several reasons why this won’t happen, and imagine it might initially be a slight drag on the Scottish game, but would probably be better for clubs in all of the Celtic nations in the long run. This idea is inspired greatly by the Benelux league, which I think would be fantastic for the European game. In general, clubs from smaller nations will always have a lower ceiling than those from larger ones, but the playing field could be levelled if some countries group together. Again, it probably won’t happen, but imagine if along with the big 5 leagues in Europe, there was a Celtic league, a Benelux league, maybe a Scandinavian league or a Central European league, etc.