Please Let the OF leave!!!

[Mark]

Craig Levein has lamented Hearts' latest loss in Glasgow and claimed the time might be right to ditch the Old Firm for the good of Scottish football.
A 2-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox severely weakened Levein's chances of guiding Hearts to a fourth-place finish in the SPL and, with it, a berth in next season's UEFA Cup.

Speaking on the eve of the SPL TV crisis summit at Hampden, the head coach admitted he would be happy to see Celtic and Rangers swap the SPL for life south of the border.

'Put yourself in my position,' urged Levein. 'I am managing a team which, in all reality, can't win the league. We have supporters who are buying season tickets in the knowledge that their team, with the best will in the world, is not going to win the league.

'It's not just Hearts - it's the same for nine other clubs. If they [the Old Firm] left, it would be an opportunity for half-a- dozen teams to win the league and would kick some life back into Scottish football.

'If Aberdeen had the opportunity to win the league - or ourselves, or Hibs or Dundee - the TV money would not be there but we would get more people through the turnstiles.

'Look at Hibs when they won the First Division a couple of years ago. Their crowds were bigger simply because they were winning matches and had the chance to win the league.

'Everyone accepts that Celtic and Rangers will finish first and second in the league and that everyone else will be fighting for European places.

'I don't think anyone could argue with that. If they left, and this is a personal view rather than the club's view, it would be better for me and my players. It's a fairly logical view.'

Levein has been heavily criticised for fielding defensive formations when Hearts travel to Glasgow, as he battens down the hatches in a bid to prevent heavy defeat.

Ironically, he selected a more attack-minded team at Ibrox yesterday as he sought to keep pace with Aberdeen, Livingston and Dunfermline in the pursuit of European qualification.

The defeat leaves Hearts seven points adrift of fourth place, though, and in desperate need of full points at Pittodrie on Saturday.

No European cash would further impact on Levein's plans for next season, but he remains adamant that Tynecastle chief executive Chris Robinson and his counterparts at the nine other non-Old Firm clubs have a crucial decision to make today.

'I'm guessing with everyone else as to what might happen at the meeting,' added Levein. 'From a financial point of view, Celtic and Rangers being part of the SPL TV channel is the only option.

'But there is also the possibility of Celtic and Rangers leaving the league. I stress that it's only my personal view, but it might at least give a chance to others.'

[Blue]

It certainly whets the appetite doesnt it......Man Utd v Rangers....Celtic v Liverpool. There is certainly a large fan base in England for the auld firm. Doubt its gonna happen but it would be pretty cool.

[Shed Boy]

they should gtf, the are gready bassas that have bleed this league dry and they just want to go away and try to do it in another league,

if anyone takes then they dont know what they are letting themselves in for, biggotary, sectairanism,. the lot.

[Mark]

celtic maybe rangers are crap

[Blue]

In answer to shed boy.....yeah the AF are greedy...and they are both too big for the Scottish league...its not fair that the other teams in Scotland are unable to compete because they dont have the fan base or financial muscle but such is football these days. I know bigotry is rife concerning the AF and unlike most people posting on these boards I have first hand knowledge of this having been to quite a few AF games.
Its time for them to go...and soon.
In answer to Mark, Rangers are far from *crap* and could easily hold there own in the EPL....plus being one of the richest clubs in Britain they could buy there way out of trouble if they were in it.

[Shed Boy]

I just dont understand how anybody would want the OF in their league cuz all they bring is problems.

[Blue]

It will all come down to money m8
If its financially viable and expedient for them to go, they will, no matter what the expected problems might be.

[saints1884]

USA Blue. The thing is that Fifa and the Sfa have said no to them playing in England yet again,so there not going to be playing there any time soon.

The OF are driven by money that is the only thign that they care about, if they care anything for the Scottish leauge they would have went years ago! You would think that with the money they ask for from there share holders that would be enough to live off,but no they have to ask for more and more money from tv deals,to leave the rest of Scottish football poor. What comes around goes around!

[saints1884]

If the other 10 clubs left in the spl go for leauge reconstruction St Johnstone could be saved from relelgation Just like what happened to Aberdeen when the spl was constructed 5 seasons ago. (I'd be a verry happy Saintee if this does happen)