Soccer: Celtic chairman issues stark warning for SPL clubs

Celtic PLC chairman Brian Quinn has warned that the 10 top-flight clubs outside the Old Firm are taking a huge risk by going it alone.

The Parkhead club and their Glasgow rivals Rangers were left in limbo last week when the country’s other top flight clubs announced their intention to resign from the Scottish Premier League in two years’ time.

The decision came after the Old Firm vetoed proposals for an SPL television channel.

But the Celtic chief has told the other 10 clubs they will struggle to survive without the Old Firm’s participation in the same league.

Quinn said: ‘‘Celtic and Rangers are responsible for 80% of the revenue from televised football and yet we receive only 32%.

‘‘For the rest of the Premier League clubs to talk about leaving us behind represents a huge gamble and could be interpreted as a decision that’s been taken in anger.

‘‘It will result in smaller squads and the kind of football that will have no meaningful part in a European context.

‘‘Celtic want no part of such a set-up. Our ambitions have to be greater than that. We will not have a gun held to our heads.

‘‘We are one of Europe’s biggest clubs and we will not be part of a minor and peripheral league.

‘‘Our ambitions have to be greater than that and it would be a serious miscalculation to suggest otherwise.

‘‘We will not have a gun held to our heads. Celtic may not elect to leave the SPL, but in the meantime we shall not be moved.’’