Premiership looks to Old Firm

Celtic and Rangers may be drafted into the Premiership to revive its flagging TV fortunes.

ITV's attempt to establish its flagship highlights programme in prime time has failed and the station has confirmed it will move The Premiership from 7pm to 10.30 from November 17.

Now senior figures in the game are exploring ways in which they can refresh the Premier League's appeal before the next round of TV contracts in 2003-04.

They believe a redraft of the League, as radical as the original launch in 1992-93, is essential to revive the commercial kudos of the competition. That is why they are now willing to incorporate the Old Firm giants, with their global fanbases.

Poor ratings have forced ITV into submission and football's leading chairmen into the realisation that next time they need a more appetising menu, possibly featuring Scotland's big two.

Though an invitation to the Old Firm to join the English Premier League is seen as anathema by many chairmen - especially those who stand to lose their Premiership status as a result - there may be no alternative.

A Premier League including Rangers and Celtic, particularly after the latter's revival under Martin O'Neill, would have much greater selling power and several leading officials and administrators have indicated that a growing number of clubs recognise it as a realistic prospect.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale is one high-profile supporter of the idea, which has also been endorsed by Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein. Europe would not be a stumbling block, as UEFA general secretary Gerhard Aigner has already said he would not stand in the way of such a move.