Like receiving that jocular Christmas present which ends up being passed on year after year the ‘Atlantic League’ proposal was trotted out once again and swiftly rebuffed by its biggest suggested participant. I suppose it’s the thought that counts.
The latest incarnation had a new whistle attached to it in the form of a figure plucked out the air, probably by backer investment bank JP Morgan, that the league, if created, would generate close to £400m in broadcast revenue – how much do you trust the predictions of investment banks?
Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond looked, sniffed, rubbed his nose and kindly passed back the envelope with the kitchen table maths scrawled across it.
Desmond clearly decided to wait for bigger fish to land (most probably in the form of the fabled ‘UK League’).
What does the latest version of the Atlantic League look like?
The Atlantic League will be a twenty team roster from, Scotland; Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs, Norway; Rosenborg, Viking Stavanger, Valarenga and Molde, Sweden; Malmo, Norrkoping, AIK Stockholm, IFK Gothenburg and Hammarby, Denmark; FC Copenhagen, Brondby, Esbjerg, Aarhus and Midtjyll, and one Irish side.
Andrew Doyle – co-owner of League of Ireland’s Shelbourne – is the man credited in creating this latest Atlantic myth.
Why’s it being proposed?
There is a level of dissatisfaction in the Scottish Premiership that would send the dials measuring the gauges of a nuclear sub station to cracking point.
In recent decades it’s become clear that only two clubs can win the SPL – fact. There’s not a snowball’s chance in Benidorm that ‘a Leicester’ will be done and we’ll see Hibs or Aberdeen lift the SPL trophy.
This is going to get worse and only add to supporter dissatisfaction that the media outlets who did fork out the fiver and packet of ready salted for the rights to the Scottish League only focus on Rangers and Celtic.
Couple this with the ineptitude of the SPFL – an organisation that let this season’s competition begin without a sponsor (eventually Neil Doncaster and cronies convinced a pizza chain to put their name around the product). Would this ever happen in the money spinning business empires South of the border or in Europe?
To sum up, there’s little money and meaningful competition in Scottish football anymore.
The fabled ‘British League’
A truly immaculate conception.
Aberdeen Chairman Dave Cormack – a backer of the Atlantic League – thinks fans ‘won’t find it appetising’ to go from Scotland to the far off plains of Exeter or Plymouth.
But would Aberdeen vs Newcastle or Hibs vs West Ham (let alone the giants) not have more chance of filling stadiums week in week out rather than Hearts vs Valarenga?
And if fans really are miffed to have to travel the length of the country to watch their team play away, lest we forget the idea of ‘away fans’ is not vital to leagues – in Spain’s La Liga it’s not custom to have away fans at games.
Further articles:
–Jim McLean tribute: Godfather of the game and fiercest rival in the ‘New Firm’ dies on Boxing Day aged 83
–Retro report: Aberdeen put 4 past United to get through to Scottish Cup final 1990
–Aberdeen come from behind to beat St Johnstone and move back to third: SPL reaction
–Fact-pact: Everything you need to know about Scotland’s Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying group
–The stats: All hail Bayern Munich superstar Lewandowski who makes it 250 goals in Bundesliga
Fan view on Super Leagues and the revival of the SPL
Rangers v Livingston. V Falkirk. V Ross County. All for a share of a miserly pot of money? The current product on offer is dismal.
Surely Celtic’s aspirations should be higher than the Atlantic League. Stifled for decades in SPFL. Let them join the European Super League with Europe’s big guns. That must be the goal.
(Atlantic League) got to be better than playing the same sides a minimum of 4 times each calendar year.
Fan experience in Scotland is probably the most boring in Europe. Brondby/AIK away on a terrace with pints sounds absolutely tremendous.
Celtic v Copenhagen, Rangers v Molde, Malmo v Rosenborg, IFK Gothenburg v Midjtylland etc. These ties would be FAR superior to the below average standard played in Scottish stadia every week.
Most would love to see their team at home against different opposition. If it improves revenue to the league then why not explore?
More than a decade ago the Scandinavian leagues tried a version and it was a disaster. No one turned up except for one game. The Copenhagen derby. Think it was called the Royal League.
Lest we forget some of those nations that could be in this ‘Atlantic League’ have different football season calendars. Norway, Sweden & Finland – start of April to end of November. Scotland & Denmark Aug/Sept to May.
The remotely realistic alternative would be for a British league. It won’t happen at the moment as why would Premier League clubs want Rangers and Celtic in their league as they would inevitably threaten to break into the top six.
The problem with these ‘super leagues’
The latest incarnation had a new whistle attached to it in the form of a figure plucked out the air, probably by backer investment bank JP Morgan, that the league would generate close to £400m in broadcast revenue – how much do you trust the predictions of investment banks?
Change ‘problem’ to the plural. Who wins and who loses in these amalgamations? Which Scottish teams take English team’s places in the EPL? How’s the money going to be dished out? And most pertinently, what happens to the teams left behind?
Many fans say getting rid of Rangers and Celtic would generate more interest in the SPL with supporters outwith the Firm able to see their teams have a shot at winning the title.
However what would a Scottish league look like without not only Rangers and Celtic, but Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs too – the other three big boys. And what happens if the media doesn’t stump up for a product it turns out they have no interest in?
The most loathed of journalists are those that raise more questions than answers, but these questions have to be tackled in order to find a solution to the growing and rather boring disparity taking place in football.
This publication believes that any solutions are rooted closer to home.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 