Could closing the gates of Ibrox lead to the SPL eventually closing its gates as well?
With Rangers announcing their intention to enter administration, the possible impact on Scottish football has to be examined. Rangers are one of the most successful clubs in the world football. Their 54 league titles are a record for domestic championship victories, and the club has a long and proud history dating back to their foundation in 1872. However, since Craig Whyte's takeover in May 2011 Rangers have been constantly dogged by off field problems. Now, the almost unthinkable has happened.
It may be unfair to place the blame at Whyte’s door. Though rumours circulate that it was always his intention to take the club into administration, and his admission that Rangers’ tax bill may rise to £75 million, the decisions of previous regimes must be questioned. I’m here to talk about what the problems at Rangers may mean for the future of the SPL, and I’m sure in the coming days more will be revealed about the way the club is run, so we’ll move on.
Rangers' looming administration spells disaster for Scottish football. So much of the advertising revenue the SPL brings in depends on the Old Firm’s presence. Sky and ESPN’s interest would quickly deteriorate in the Scottish game if all they had to show to a worldwide audience was Dundee Utd against St Mirren four times a season. Indeed, there is a clause in the broadcasting contract stating that both Rangers and Celtic must be in the SPL for the deal to continue.
Looking at the average home attendances of the other clubs and comparing them to when Rangers are in town gives another reason why Rangers’ demise may equal SPL demise. Taking Kilmarnock as an example, though this applies to most clubs with the possible exception of Hearts, taking away their twice a season visit from Rangers would result in a huge loss of income. In a stadium the size of Rugby Park, Killie attract an average attendance of around 5,000, and that figure includes visits from both sides of the Old Firm this season. The attendance doubles as Rangers bring enough away supporters to fill both stands behind the goals at least, and missing out on this four times a season pay day (including Celtic’s visits) could mean that if Rangers do go into administration, or worse, they could take the likes of Kilmarnock with them.
Without one half of the Old Firm, the league would perhaps become more competitive with Motherwell, Dundee Utd and the Edinburgh clubs realistically challenging for the title, but the question must be asked how long Celtic would stay in the SPL before seeking new challenges elsewhere. Unfortunately, no Rangers in the SPL may mean no Celtic. It may mean no TV deal, and that would certainly mean no money for the rest of the clubs. Rangers’ demise could lead to the demise of the SPL as we know it. The whole Scottish football landscape would change beyond recognition if one of the major powers in our game.
No doubt the story will develop in the next few days as we learn more about the true turmoil at Ibrox, however for the moment, if I was a Celtic fan I would be putting the ice-cream back in the freezer.
