Celtic eye Premiership not Phoenix future

Glasgow Celtic say their jump to the Premiership in England is starting to take shape but have not backed any new Phoenix League or Premiership 2 division.

The Scottish giants with city rivals Rangers are eyeing a move to the Premeirship outright or any new league created by the biggest English clubs.

The Football League in England is looking into possible League restructuring as a consquence of loss of television revenue which is expected when the current television deal expires.

That is due to run out in 2004 but ITV paid out $400 million for rights to English league matches and are already looking at renegotiating the deal to prevent at least $220 million of the new contract being paid.

Some English clubs want to use their original Phoenix League plan to breakaway from the current First Division and bring in Celtic and Rangers from Scotland to form a Premiership 2.

But the Scottish clubs face loss of revenue from the Champions League and do not want join any Premiership 2 with bigger clubs in England hinting constantly to them of their own plans for a new league in England and future European league.

Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond and Coventry City chief Bryan Richardson are leading a group of six rebel clubs - along with Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester City, Birmingham and Wolverhampton Wanderers - have forced their league to look at the restructuring plan but Celtic are not keen to join the smaller English clubs.

Richmond said last night:

"I believe it is a question of when rather than if a Premier League Division Two is created.

"Senior officials of Premier League and Football League clubs have discussed the idea but it has to be driven by the Premier League - we are the tail wagging the dog.

"I also think it is attractive if the Premier League Two includes Rangers and Celtic.

"Informal contact has been made with those two clubs and they shall be warmly welcomed into a Premier League Two."

But according to Celtic: "There has never been any discussion involving Celtic on this proposed league.

"However, we know from the feedback we have received from Premiership chairmen that there is interest in restructuring and in Celtic and Rangers participating in this."