Re: O/T - Glasgow Rangers go into adminstration
Conference clubs will next week discuss plans to invite Rangers into the fifth tier of English football.
Clubs from the Blue Square Bet Premier will join lower level counterparts from the Conference North and South on Monday for a mid-season review.
And chairman Brian Lees has admitted that last week’s vow by Charles Green to flit south will be on the agenda after 18 of his member clubs expressed tentative support for the idea.
Unhappy with the proposals for a restructuring of the Scottish leagues to a 12-12-18, Green said last week: ‘I could join the Conference and I would be in a higher league than I’m in. It doesn’t matter to me. If the only option is to go into England and start at the lowest level I believe Rangers fans would support that.’
Admitting the idea also has some support amongst his own clubs if the resistance of the footballing authorities can be navigated, Lees responded: ‘On Monday we have a mid-season meeting of clubs and that could be a topic for conversation.
‘Obviously it is up to clubs to make rule changes. But there are one or two problems.
‘First of all it’s a FIFA issue in terms of moving from one country to another.
‘The second thing - and probably the most important - is the problem it would create with promotion and relegation. There would be an uneven number.
Rangers are 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division - but the proposed restructure means they wouldn't be promoted
‘It would be wrong, also, if the Football League would not take Rangers if they came into the Conference as part of our promotion and relegation system.
‘They would therefore be in the Conference and I’m sure they would like the opportunity eventually to go higher in the pyramid.
‘These are not insurmountable problems. But you would have to have the co-operation of a lot of different people and organisations to make it possible.’
UEFA have recently sanctioned a cross border female league in Belgium and Holland, prompting Green to threaten a sex discrimination case against the governing body if they block his desire to quit Scotland.
Welsh club Wrexham are currently top of the Blue Square Bet Premier, prompting Lees to adopt an open mind to the concept of Scottish clubs bolstering his competition’s financial clout.
‘Any application would be judged on its merit,’ he said. ‘What happens in Europe is one thing and different to what happens here.
‘The Football League is involved in football in England and Wales.
‘So there is a precedent there. And Berwick Rangers play football in Scotland, so there is another precedent.
‘(Rangers) fans are also an attraction in a way, because of the higher level of football and facilities and so on.
‘Last weekend, for example, Rangers had 44,000 and there were a few hundred at the other games.
‘But at our grounds, of course, you have an average of around 6000.’
The cost of travel for non-league clubs could be a potential drawback, while police authorities would also have a say.
Suggesting Rangers themselves could help to ease the path to agreement should they wish to apply, however, Lees added: ‘Guernsey play in England and they cover the costs of the travel for their opponents.
‘So it’s not insurmountable, but it’s a case of where there is a will there is a way.
‘It is exciting, but we have promotion and relegation and the opportunities which might be denied could be a problem.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2262755/Rangers-eye-place-English-Conference-Charles-Green-protest-SFL-restructure.html
Rangers are 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division - but the proposed restructure means they wouldn't be promoted
Yes they would! They'd be in the third tier, as opposed to the fourth tier they're currently in.
Conference clubs will next week discuss plans to invite Rangers into the fifth tier of English football.
Clubs from the Blue Square Bet Premier will join lower level counterparts from the Conference North and South on Monday for a mid-season review.
And chairman Brian Lees has admitted that last week’s vow by Charles Green to flit south will be on the agenda after 18 of his member clubs expressed tentative support for the idea.
Unhappy with the proposals for a restructuring of the Scottish leagues to a 12-12-18, Green said last week: ‘I could join the Conference and I would be in a higher league than I’m in. It doesn’t matter to me. If the only option is to go into England and start at the lowest level I believe Rangers fans would support that.’
Admitting the idea also has some support amongst his own clubs if the resistance of the footballing authorities can be navigated, Lees responded: ‘On Monday we have a mid-season meeting of clubs and that could be a topic for conversation.
‘Obviously it is up to clubs to make rule changes. But there are one or two problems.
‘First of all it’s a FIFA issue in terms of moving from one country to another.
‘The second thing - and probably the most important - is the problem it would create with promotion and relegation. There would be an uneven number.
Rangers are 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division - but the proposed restructure means they wouldn't be promoted
‘It would be wrong, also, if the Football League would not take Rangers if they came into the Conference as part of our promotion and relegation system.
‘They would therefore be in the Conference and I’m sure they would like the opportunity eventually to go higher in the pyramid.
‘These are not insurmountable problems. But you would have to have the co-operation of a lot of different people and organisations to make it possible.’
UEFA have recently sanctioned a cross border female league in Belgium and Holland, prompting Green to threaten a sex discrimination case against the governing body if they block his desire to quit Scotland.
Welsh club Wrexham are currently top of the Blue Square Bet Premier, prompting Lees to adopt an open mind to the concept of Scottish clubs bolstering his competition’s financial clout.
‘Any application would be judged on its merit,’ he said. ‘What happens in Europe is one thing and different to what happens here.
‘The Football League is involved in football in England and Wales.
‘So there is a precedent there. And Berwick Rangers play football in Scotland, so there is another precedent.
‘(Rangers) fans are also an attraction in a way, because of the higher level of football and facilities and so on.
‘Last weekend, for example, Rangers had 44,000 and there were a few hundred at the other games.
‘But at our grounds, of course, you have an average of around 6000.’
The cost of travel for non-league clubs could be a potential drawback, while police authorities would also have a say.
Suggesting Rangers themselves could help to ease the path to agreement should they wish to apply, however, Lees added: ‘Guernsey play in England and they cover the costs of the travel for their opponents.
‘So it’s not insurmountable, but it’s a case of where there is a will there is a way.
‘It is exciting, but we have promotion and relegation and the opportunities which might be denied could be a problem.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2262755/Rangers-eye-place-English-Conference-Charles-Green-protest-SFL-restructure.html
Rangers are 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division - but the proposed restructure means they wouldn't be promoted
Yes they would! They'd be in the third tier, as opposed to the fourth tier they're currently in.
