McNamara re-ignites Celtic Premiership debate

JACKIE MCNAMARA has re-ignited the debate for Celtic to be allowed to join the English league.

McNamara, speaking after a 2-0 win over Motherwell, is adamant that Scottish football would be much better off if Celtic and Rangers were allowed to move south across the border.

The Celtic captain fears that he will never play in a Barclays Premiership fixture, given that his career is in its later stages.

But the 31-year-old welcomed Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell’s claims that Celtic and Rangers would one day join the English football elite.

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher agreed, after his side’s defeat at Parkhead, that Celtic had become too strong for the Scottish league.

While McNamara would welcome the move, he does not think it will happen while he is still playing.

The 31-year-old, who looks set to sign a new two-year extension, said: “Few managers have come out and said that. This has been spoken about for so many years and to be honest I can’t see it happening during my playing career.

“But it would be good for Scottish football and as a whole for the Old Firm.”

The champions saw off their Lanarkshire visitors with a comfortable performance but one which lacked the spark to inspire the home supporters, who are keen for new signings to lift them.

And Butcher, who swapped the English league for Rangers during his playing career, believes that the Old Firm would benefit from fresh competition.

He joked: “I hope Rangers and Celtic clear off out of Scotland.

“With all due respect, all Celtic and Rangers can do is win these games and I have been in that position before when I played 20 years ago.

“The gap between Rangers and Celtic was minimum but now it’s just massive because clubs like ours are having to play young players and give them a chance.

“Years ago Motherwell came here with players like John Spencer and spent a fair bit of money and the gap was small, but now it’s just huge.

“It certainly was flat and once Celtic went to 2-0 that was the end of the game but we did keep going.

“If they win a Sky contract and Celtic and Rangers leave, then the interest would carry on here as it would give other clubs the chance to compete.

“But they have outgrown the SPL as games like today are very difficult for us and harder to watch.”