Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Liam Bryce

Jamie O'Hara changes his Rangers and Celtic tune but Ally McCoist isn't buying British League claim

Pundit Jamie O'Hara insists the Premier League should jump at the chance to welcome Rangers and Celtic.

The former Tottenham midfielder - infamous for the odd derisory take on Scottish football - has backed the idea of a British League welcoming the Glasgow rivals.

A report on Thursday morning claimed the clubs are wanted to join a breakaway tournament south of the border.

It follows the dramatic collapse of the European Super League this week but there are claims desire to reform football lingers among England's top clubs.

And one solution is to invite Celtic and Rangers into a revamped Premier League, an idea which left O'Hara thrilled.

"I think Rangers would survive, Rangers would stay up," he told talkSPORT.

"If you put them in the Premier League now Rangers would stay up with Steven Gerrard in charge.

"I think Celtic would probably go down, I'd put them up for relegation.

"But - on that - if you gave them a transfer window and a season to really bed in, they would compete for the top six because they're huge football clubs.

"But they'd need a couple of seasons to really find their feet and get the players. If Rangers come into the Premier League and Steven Gerrard was the manager, are you telling me he's not going to attract some of the best players in the world? Of course he would.

"If they did come in and were given time, I think we should definitely try and get them. I really do.

"I would love to see them in the Premier League."

Co-pundit and Rangers legend Ally McCoist wasn't so sure, however.

He expressed doubt the two clubs would simply be allowed to walk straight in to the top division unopposed.

He said: "We've been moaning the last three days about the unfairness of this European Super League - no promotion and relegation.

"It was self-acclaimed Super League - 'we're the top six and we're going'.

"Let's not be hypocritical about the whole thing but it would be different in the respect there'd be promotion and relegation.

"I'm not sure Rangers and Celtic would get invited straight into it. They'd maybe have to earn their right.

"They could start off in the Championship, I don't know."

But O'Hara was adamant the two clubs should be dropped straight into the big time, suggesting anything else would be delaying the inevitable.

He said: "You can't put Rangers and Celtic in League 1 or League 2, that's unfair on all the other clubs.

"They're putting money in to try and get promoted then it's 'we've got to deal with Celtic, they're going to go up'.

"Two teams every season for the next three seasons are going to go up the leagues.

"Put them in the Premier League. Put them in it.

"You'd drop down maybe five (clubs). I don't know how they'd figure it out but I would definitely find a way to put them in the Premier League.

"If there's an opportunity to get Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League we should absolutely jump at that."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.