Rangers return to Premiership 'good news', says SPFL chief Neil Doncaster

[ian1964 10,514]

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has welcomed the return of Rangers to the Scottish Premiership.

 

The Ibrox side ended their four-year absence from the top-flight by beating Dumbarton 1-0 on Tuesday night to secure the Championship title.

 

They will be locking horns with Glasgow rivals Celtic in the league once again next year and Doncaster is delighted by the prospect of having the big derby games back on the calendar.

 

"It's great news for Rangers fans all over the world and, I think, good news for Scottish football as well," Doncaster told Sky Sports News HQ.

 

"We've got an appetiser in 10 days' time with the Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers, but we've got four pretty big main courses to look forward to next year."

 

Doncaster added: "There are also games against Hearts and Aberdeen, which are big games in their own right, and clearly that's going to drive eyeballs, that's going to drive interest, and that should translate into more commercial revenues for the benefit of all 42 clubs.

 

"When you travel overseas and talk to leagues across the world, the games between Rangers and Celtic are global events and they are games other leagues will talk about all over the world.

 

"So to have those games back, to have the increased level of interest, that can only help in marketing the whole game worldwide."

 

Doncaster does, however, believe that the game has thrived in Scotland in recent years despite the absence of Rangers from the Premiership.

 

He said: "Rangers over the past few years that they have been in the lower divisions, they have brought thousands of fans all over the country and that's had a huge benefit to clubs all around the country in the lower leagues.

 

"It's been a tumultuous time for Rangers and also Scottish football over that period, but over that period the game has thrived nonetheless and we've ended up with our biggest ever title sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes and also our biggest ever overseas television deal.

 

"So the game remains in good health despite the absence of Rangers from the top-flight. But, of course, we shouldn't be any doubt at all Rangers coming back into the top flight next year will help the whole game."

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11788/10232156/rangers-return-to-premiership-good-news-says-spfl-chief-neil-doncaster

[compo 6,327]

What a crawler useless man out of his depth couldn't run a pie stall .

[26th of foot 5,902]

What a crawler useless man out of his depth couldn't run a pie stall .

 

Peter will tell Neil how to run said pie stall, just like he's told Neil to make a patronising interview in light of last night's result. I am sure Peter has told Stewart to do something similar.

[boabie 230]

Can anyone remember the last time that utter dumpling said anything worthwhile ?

[ian1964 10,514]

''and clearly that's going to drive eyeballs''..................wtf does that mean?

[der Berliner 3,363]

As the US chaps of AP correctly put it ...

 

However, the natural order has been restored, meaning there should be more global interest in Scotland again. The so-called "Old Firm" derbies between Glasgow rivals Rangers and Celtic are among the most passionate and intense games in world football.

 

Other leading Scottish clubs will be delighted at Rangers' return to the Scottish Premiership because of financial reasons, such as the likely improved TV and sponsorship deals and increased gate receipts.

 

Neil and Co. created a mess of titanic proportions back then, the vultures were screaming for blood, the turkeys voted for x-mas and they all got royally f*cked by reality ... as it happened so often in Scottish history.

[MacK1950 2,258]

What a cringeworthy article no doubt the other puppet will make a similar statement two absolute cretins on the manky mobs man's strings,boak.

[RANGERRAB 3,358]

Both Doncaster & especially Rhegan should have been sacked after we got voted out the SPL in 2012.

[calscot 0]

Scottish football have "thrived"? Really? Well obviously he would say that...

[ian1964 10,514]

Scottish football have "thrived"? Really? Well obviously he would say that...

 

I would guess he is meaning the lower division clubs getting the blue pound for the last four seasons?