Celtic and Rangers recently had their slim chances of joining the Premier League ended.
The Glasgow clubs have long been linked with a move to the lucrative English top flight, where clubs earn a combined £5bn across three seasons in television money, as opposed to £21m a season in Scottish football.
However, any chances of joining the football pyramid south of the border were shot down by an English Football League ruling that no non-English teams would be allowed join in the future. In a statement they said:
‘Following a meeting of its clubs on Thursday (22 September), the EFL confirmed that the inclusion of Premier League B Teams, clubs from non-English leagues or those outside the English football pyramid will not form part of any ongoing discussions for the ‘Whole Game Solution’.’
Looks like it's definitely off then. For good. https://t.co/0JJZH5Wijt
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) September 23, 2016
However, “the Atlantic League” seems like a decent backup plan for the Glasgow rivals.
According to The Daily Mirror, the league is “marching towards inevitability”, and plans have come about over fears that the richest European clubs are monopolising entry to the Champions League.
In an interview with Danish media, Anders Horsholt – a director for Danish side FC Copenhagen – said:
“Yes it’s true. If we do not act now, we will see the biggest clubs grow larger and stronger while it will be increasingly difficult for clubs like us.
“We must therefore look at which alternative international opportunities for FC Copenhagen in the future.
“Here it is still too early to talk about specific models, but the discussion of leagues across European borders is a theme that we look at and actively participates in.”
According to Horsholt, the proposed league will feature 12-16 teams from six countries – Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Sweden.
While, back in February, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell reportedly raised the topic with Ajax.
It’d be interesting to see how it works out.
