Keith Wyness, the former Aberdeen chief executive, has been a staunch opponent of the idea of the Old Firm teams, Celtic and Rangers, joining the English Premier League. During his tenure at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, Wyness consistently battled against the notion, a stance he maintained even when he held positions at English clubs such as Aston Villa and Everton in the top flight.
The issue of Celtic and Rangers potentially joining the English Premier League was brought to the forefront in 2009, when a proposal put forward by the late Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, for a two-tier league of between 36 and 40 teams, with the inclusion of the Glasgow giants, was rejected by the Premier League. Wyness views the idea as a total non-starter, expressing his belief that it would spell disaster for cities in England.
In a recent interview with Football Insider, Wyness highlighted the potential challenges that the fanbases of Celtic and Rangers would face if they were to move south, suggesting that cities would be overwhelmed and under siege during weekend games. Despite previous attempts by the Scottish clubs to explore options in other European leagues, Wyness is pessimistic about the likelihood of such a move ever materializing.
Reflecting on his time at Aberdeen, Wyness recalled a similar battle he fought against the prospect of Celtic and Rangers dominating the Scottish Premier League. He recounted how Aberdeen had resigned from the league in an effort to level the playing field and secure a fairer share of television revenue. Although the Glasgow giants had expressed interest in joining the Premier League in the past, Wyness believes that the appetite for such a move in England is currently lacking, and existing regulations would likely prevent them from doing so.
Ultimately, Wyness remains resolute in his belief that the Old Firm joining the English Premier League would be a disaster, citing logistical challenges and a lack of interest as key reasons why the move is highly unlikely to ever come to fruition.
