League confirm Old Firm talks

The Football League finally confirmed today that they have held two meetings with officials from Celtic and Rangers in the past fortnight.

The two Scottish giants want to join the Barclaycard Premiership and are targeting the Nationwide League as a natural stepping stone.

The League were contacted by the pair to set up a meeting which ‘‘explored possibilities’’.

The addition of Celtic and Rangers to the domestic structure could provide a timely boost to a game reeling from the effects of the ITV Digital collapse.

The issue is not on the formal agenda for club chairmen meeting on Thursday but that will not stop the matter being brought up.

But sources say the chances of Celtic and Rangers playing alongside the likes of Grimsby and Brighton in the First Division next season are virtually nil.

Amongst the myriad problems faced by the move are the fixture lists, which are due to be announced in just over one month’s time; the two-year notice which Celtic and Rangers need to give prior to resignation from the Scottish Premier League; and the fact that the FA Premiership’s current rules forbid membership of teams from outside England and Wales.

Scottish Premier League chairman Lex Gold is hopeful of bringing Scotland’s top-flight clubs together for talks within the next 10 days.

Rangers chairman David Murray appeared to increase the divide between Glasgow’s big two and the other SPL clubs yesterday when he admitted talks had taken place between the Old Firm and Nationwide League officials.

That sparked a typically outspoken retaliation from Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, and Football League chief executive David Burns insisted his organisation did not necessarily need the Old Firm clubs to join them.

But Gold is hopeful a resolution can still be reached with Celtic and Rangers and his views have been echoed by the SPL, who are looking to reopen negotiations.

Gold said: ‘‘I’ve been in regular discussion with both sides for the past few weeks and I’m hopeful and keen that we can get round the table in the next week or so.

‘‘I’m keen that this should take place sooner rather than later, as there is obviously a great deal to discuss.

‘‘I’m optimistic that we will be able to get both halves of the Old Firm and representatives of the 10 other clubs together at the end of this week or early next week.’’

Wyness accused Scotland’s biggest two clubs of greed and Murray of a ‘‘cute’’ PR stunt, but East End Park chief John Yorkston was refusing to criticise them.

‘‘Let me just say that a satisfactory solution is more likely after what I’ve heard,’’ said Yorkston. ‘‘I’m more optimistic of that after my talks yesterday afternoon (with Murray).

‘‘I’m optimistic common ground can be found and it was made clear that the Nationwide League is a non-starter as far as Rangers are concerned.’’

Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven today denied negotiations over an Atlantic League were dead in the water despite the Old Firm’s links with the Nationwide League.

The Dutch club were one of the front-runners in the proposals to set up a European League along with Celtic and Rangers.

But despite Murray’s claims, a top PSV official insists discussions over an Atlantic League would still go on with Glasgow’s big two.

Spokesman Pedro Salazar told PA Sport: ‘‘We are concerned about the situation in general, not just about PSV or Glasgow Rangers.

‘‘All the clubs are concerned about the general situation and we are trying to get a solution to that and that’s why we are talking about everything.

‘‘All the options are open at this moment. We are still talking about the Atlantic League and we will see what we can get and what we can organise.

‘‘We are not planning any congress, but we have very close contact.

‘‘We talk by telephone and sometimes we meet at matches and that’s got to be the way to find a solution. Those discussions will continue.’’

The Dutch club have also rejected suggestions that an Old Firm move to England could set a precedent to other clubs in Europe.

‘‘We are not united with any other country and cannot go to the Bundesliga or to the French competition,’’ added Salazar. ‘‘That’s impossible.

‘‘Maybe in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland they can do it, but that’s another story.’’