Scottish Third Division club Rangers CEO Charles Green claimed Sunday night that "two clubs have offered Rangers their places in the English set-up as he reiterated his belief that a move south of the border is inevitable," according to Neil McLeman of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. Green insisted that "the inevitable arrival of the Old Firm will also benefit the game south of the border." The most successful club in Scottish history is "ready to start in the Conference and play their way up to the Premier League." However, Rangers "want to be wanted." Green insisted the Ibrox club's demotion to the Third Division, a softening in UEFA attitude and economic crisis "have given fresh impetus to a perennial debate." Green: "Whether it is next week, because the English authorities change their mind, or in five to 10 years, Rangers and Celtic will leave Scotland. I would like to think within five years" (DAILY RECORD, 3/25).
WARM WELCOME: In Glasgow, John Shields wrote, "Green claims that he has been offered a way into English football." Green: "Two English clubs have come to me and said 'buy us and close us down. Take us for free and take on the liabilities.' I have spoken to a number of chief executives from Premier League clubs and all of them would welcome Rangers," (SCOTTISH SUN, 3/25). The SCOTSMAN reported, "Green stated that he does not want a free pass to the Premier League, and that if he was offered the chance for his team to join the English top flight he would 'turn it down.'" Green said, "What I do want to do is to start playing football in England, and knowing that if I win that league, I get promoted to the next one and the next one. And no one can stand there and say we can't get promoted because you are a Scottish club. Could you imagine the income generation Rangers and Celtic would create in the Conference? Every Conference stadium would be full" (SCOTSMAN, 3/25).
