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Thursday, 11 April, 2002, 09:03 GMT 10:03 UK
Rangers deny quit talk
Rangers have no immediate plans to leave Scotland
Rangers vice-chairman John McClelland insists the Old Firm are happy to stay in the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic and Rangers vetoed the SPL TV channel to leave the rest of the top flight clubs facing an uncertain financial future and sparking speculation that the Glasgow clubs were plotting to leave for pastures new.

However, McClelland maintains the decision was not based upon quitting Scotland for the English leagues, nor to create their own television channel.

McClelland told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have no plans to go anywhere else. "We have been working with the Scottish Premier League and the other clubs for some months now.

"We progressed on the content and distribution side but we didn't feel comfortable with the business plan at this stage.


We are happy playing in the SPL at this time and for the foreseeable future
Rangers vice-chairman John McClelland
"There has been much speculation about joining England but there are no plans to do that.

"It is fair to say that both Rangers and Celtic, at any time, would welcome the additional income from playing in a different structure.

"But, on the other hand, it is not something we would anticipate happening.

"We are happy playing in the Scottish Premier League at this time and for the foreseeable future."

"The decision earlier this week was not connected with any prospect of playing in England at any time.

"It was just a straightforward decision not to vote in favour of a business plan that we didn't feel addressed or provided the right financial safeguards or safeguards of media rights.

Rangers vice-chairman John McClelland
"There is no proposal from Sky to televise live games from Scotland. That decision was taken with a combination of Sky and the SPL some time ago.

"There is no clear alternative. The reason there is some controversy is because there was an expectation that, because there was no clear alternative, we would vote for this proposal.

"We didn't do that because we didn't feel satisfied or comfortable with it.

"So, at this point in time, there is no alternative.

"We have no plans to set up our own channel. Clearly it would be good if the SPL, including Rangers and Celtic, could make sure Scottish football was live (on television) and there was income from that.

"But that proposition is not on the table at the moment."

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News image Rangers vice chairman John McLelland
"I'm not ruling anything out"
See also:

16 Dec 00 |  Football
Euro league rejected
10 Jun 01 |  Scot Prem
Alchemy in the UK
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