The SPL Dilemma

It has been evident for quite some time now that Scottish football has been on a rapid decline. The Old Firm continues to have a stranglehold on the league title, both taking turns lifting the top prize every season. The other clubs in the Scottish top flight are left to feed off the scraps and battle it out for mediocrity. It has been twenty-six long years since the title has been outside Glasgow.

The SPL cannot afford to pay the wages to attract the top players, therefore having to settle for second or even third best. A growing number of players are even leaving for the English Championship: The money and quality being the main reason. Even Rangers and Celtic struggle to lure and hold on to players. Football is big business now and unfortunately Scotland is on the outside looking in. This has affected the quality of the league tremendously.  The Old Firm might dominate the opposition domestically but on the European stage, it has been a disaster for Scottish clubs.

Poor results have seen Scotland slip down the UEFA coefficient rankings, stripping the league of crucial automatic European places and guaranteed profits from the group stages. Rangers and Celtic have already crashed out of Europe with Hearts and Dundee United suffering the same fate. Another example of how far the SPL has fallen in quality is the most alarming; they are currently seventeenth trailing behind Cyprus, Austria and Switzerland by UEFA.

Aside from the Old Firm derby, I have lost complete interest in Scottish football. The talent pool is watered down and as a result the play is sloppy. The pace is slow and the officiating is horrible. The standard is simply below par all round, and I would much rather watch the MLS than the SPL at this point. Judging by the influx of star players going abroad, my statement doesn't seem that crazy. The competition is better and the money is available to lure the big names in turn allowing them to prolong their careers.

The Tartan Army has been hit hard by the lack of quality in the SPL. How can you develop the national program with a mediocre league that lacks competition? The lack of competitiveness is why Scotland has not qualified for the World Cup since 1998 and the European Cup since 1996. The gap between the Old Firm and the rest of the league has become enormous. Clubs like Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian have no choice but to sell their best players every season to the highest bidder (Celtic or Rangers) just to balance the books.The cycle then see's the same players bolt for the English second tier because it is a better option.

The solution is quite simple. For Scottish football to improve Rangers and Celtic must be removed from the SPL and added to the Football League in England. They are miles ahead of the remaining eight clubs domestically, leaving no chance for any of them to catch up. The level will only improve by taking the Old Firm out of the SPL and allowing the remaining clubs the chance to win silverware. With that come European places and the prospect of earning valuable funds that will help the talent pool. It is a long term solution rather than a temporary one. Look at how Tottenham demolished Hearts recently, it showed just how far behind the Scots have fallen.

By putting Rangers and Celtic into the English Championship it will provide real competition for a change. If Wales can have representation in the Football League, I’m sure it is possible for Scotland to be considered. Naturally you will need to reshuffle the divisions but this added competition will benefit everyone. The Premiership will have to swell to twenty-two teams to compensate this proposal; however Celtic and Rangers will have to earn the right to play in the top flight. The Championship sides will embrace the change because it opens up two extra tickets to the big show. In the first season, three clubs will get automatic promotion instead of two, and fourth through to seventh will qualify for the playoffs. Four will earn promotion in total and only two will get relegated from the Premiership to facilitate the temporary transition.

Scotland will finally be able to properly develop their domestic league without the monopoly of the Old Firm, which will allow the further progression of their national program. At the moment the majority of SPL clubs are on the same level as a mid-table Championship sides, or the top of League One at best. Celtic and Rangers would barely be considered a top ten side in the Premiership at this point. That’s why starting off in the second tier makes much more sense.

This is the only option available. The decline will continue further until these obvious truths are recognized by their FA, and a decision is made to balance the playing field. This is the unfortunate reality plaguing Scottish football.