O’Neill talks up Old Firm switch
English Premier League News : O’Neill talks up Old Firm switch
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says the English Premier League would benefit from the inclusion of his former club Celtic and rivals Rangers.
The proposal to create a two-tier Premier League could be discussed at the league’s AGM in June.
And O’Neill, who left Celtic in 2005 after five years in charge, said the Old Firm would be a hit in England.
“My personal thought is that Celtic and Rangers would enhance the Premier League,” he told Villa’s website.
Last week BBC Scotland learned Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has proposed allowing the Old Firm clubs to move to England as part of a two-tier Premier League of 18 teams each.
The idea would have to overcome a number of obstacles if it was to come to fruition, and Uefa’s director of communications William Gaillard told BBC Scotland the matter would be something to be decided between the leagues and associations involved.
O’Neill believes the Glasgow clubs would grow if they were given the green light to play in England.
I’m not sure about Rangers but I know Celtic’s capacity could go from 60,000 to 80,000 overnight – without a doubt
“Glasgow is a phenomenal football city – Celtic house 60,000 and Rangers house 50,000,” he told Villa’s website.
“I’m not sure about Rangers but I know Celtic’s capacity could go from 60,000 to 80,000 overnight – without a doubt.
“When I was manager of Celtic a number of years ago, there was some talk of both teams joining the Premier League in some capacity.
“There was mention of them being put in the Championship too, or maybe even lower down than that, and then making them work their way up through promotion.”
He added: “If forced to do that, they would eventually get to the top and end up as monumental players in the Premier League.”
O’Neill said he was aware sceptics would be against the move, but he believed the clubs would enhance the competition in England.
“I suppose Belgian teams could then ask to join the Dutch league and Dutch teams could then request to join the Bundesliga,” he went on.
“All of those points would have to be considered. But if you’re asking for a personal opinion, I think Celtic and Rangers joining would enhance the Barclays Premier League and make us all strive to get better.
“I certainly support the idea. But, then again, I could be a voice in the wilderness.”
Source: English Premier League News, Aston Villa Football Club News at BBC Sport
Martin O’Neill – Aston Villa F.C. Manager
Martin Hugh Michael O’Neill, OBE, (born March 1, 1952 in Kilrea, Northern Ireland) is a former Northern Ireland national football team captain who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of Aston Villa. O’Neill is perhaps best known for his time as Celtic manager between 2000 and 2005 when he led the club to three Scottish Premier League titles and the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville.
Personal information
Full name : Martin Hugh Michael O’Neill
Date of birth : March 1, 1952 (1952-03-01) (age 56)
Place of birth : Kilrea, Northern Ireland
Playing position : Midfielder (retired)
Club information : Aston Villa
League : English Barclays Premier League Football Club
Aston Villa
O’Neill was introduced as the Aston Villa manager at a press conference on August 4, 2006. At the press conference he stated “It’s absolutely fantastic to be back and with a club such as this. This is a fantastic challenge. I am well aware of the history of this football club. Trying to restore it to its days of former glory seems a long way away – but why not try? It is nearly 25 years since they won the European Cup but that is the dream.”
Villa’s form improved substantially following O’Neill’s appointment. They had the longest unbeaten start of any Premiership side in 2006-07 (9 games), not losing a league game until 28 October.
Villa suffered a mid-season slump but recovered late in the season, winning their three away games in April under O’Neill’s guidance, to end the season how it began with a run of 9 unbeaten fixtures. For this O’Neill scooped the Barclays Manager of the Month for April.
.[3] Aston Villa’s owner Randy Lerner said that he would not stop O’Neill from leaving Villa if offered the job of England manager, because he respects that it is a very prestigious position.[3] O’Neill later dismissed the reports, calling them “unfair speculation”.[4]
The 2007-08 season was a fantastic season for O’Neill and Aston Villa as they just missed out on a UEFA Cup spot on the final day of the season and qualified for the InterToto Cup by finshing 6th. They also scored 71 goals, (Villa’s best ever tally in the Premier League and best tally since winning the title in 1981), gained 60 points which was Villa’s highest points tally since the 1996-97 season, were the 3rd highest goalscorers and were praised for their well-organised, counter-attacking football something in which O’Neill got Leicester City and Celtic playing in his previous jobs
Source: For more information on Martin O’Neill, Aston Villa Manager, English Barclays Premier League Football Club, visit wikipedia.org