Ferguson favours Old Firm exit
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Your support makes all the difference.The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Scottish club football can only regain its competitive edge if it jettisons Celtic and Rangers.
The Old Firm have made no secret of their desire to move to a more lucrative set-up, with a move to England or to a newly-formed Atlantic League among suggested alternatives.
Meanwhile, the 10 other Scottish Premier League clubs have begun moves to set up their own league in two years' time after the Glasgow pair scuppered plans for an SPL television deal and a new voting structure.
Ferguson, a former Rangers striker, said: "I can understand fully that Rangers and Celtic want to progress, it is the most natural thing to do.
"I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world for the rest of the Scottish league if they did go.
"They could create quite a competitive league for themselves albeit missing the financial clout and the massive support the Old Firm bring."
However, Ferguson is not expecting to face the Old Firm in the Premiership in the coming years, believing instead that, if the Glasgow giants do find a new home outside the SPL, then the Nationwide League is a more likely option. "I can't see them joining the Premiership at this point," he said. "There seems to be a move within the Nationwide League for them to join and you can see the advantages of that, particularly in terms of television revenue.
It is 17 years since a non-Old Firm club won the Scottish top division. In 1985 Ferguson's Aberdeen won, precipitating his move to Old Trafford.
Ferguson continued: "Last year Celtic were 45 points ahead of the third-placed team, which is ridiculous. The last time there was any competition to the Old Firm was when I was there and both Aberdeen and Dundee United were consistently challenging for trophies.
"That is not happening now, although possibly the resources [necessary] have gone beyond the rest of the clubs."
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