With J Hutcherson -- The one sentence summary of the Scottish Premier League so far would go something like this: Rangers have money trouble, the Old Firm wants out, and Hibs are pretty good. You could shuffle those three items around, but I went with order of immediate importance.
Rangers are currently trying to work through a situation that could see them forced into selling players. The time line is currently in question. The club and the bank have indicated that there won't necessarily be a January clear out. Obviously, that would keep the squad stable for the rest of the current season. Or not. Currently, that's what a lot of Glasgow-based sportswriters are trying to figure out.
What got Rangers here? If reports prove accurate, somewhere between $40 million to $50 million dollars in debt. Lloyds Banking Group holds the note, and are reportedly now running the club's business. That's a lot of 'reportedly,' with all involved likely wanting to keep this private for as long as possible.
The thing about the Old Firm is that they need each other at or near the top of the table. That's what makes their dance so watchable for so many around the World. Take one away, and even the other team's diehards would eventually realize it wouldn't be the same. There would also be a lack of push towards making it better for Rangers and Celtic.
Like a remake of an old movie, we're back to those two getting out of the Scottish league system entirely. The English Premier League has once again shut down the conversation for moving South. At the same time, the Atlantic League is once again at least getting into the conversation.
Nobody has a real grasp on broader interest for pulling together the biggest clubs from a number of second-tier European leagues. As in, there's not a list of eager clubs ready to sign on. At least not publicly, with some of the necessary clubs resisting the urge to latch onto the concept.
The broader point for our Scottish friends is yet anther replay. There's simply not enough money to be made in Scotland, so they can't justify the money to put together the kind of squad to succeed in Europe. If you're thinking 'hey, that's part of Rangers' financial problems,' good for you.
It's also part of that old competitive issue for the Premier League. Once upon a time, there were other clubs capable of working their way into the title race over multiple seasons. Right now, Edinburgh's Hibernian are second in the SPL table. Two quick points: one, no I'm not assuming most of you know where Hibs are actually located, and two, they're second because Rangers' game was rained out.
Still, 20 points from ten games is good enough to be in that top of the table conversation. Celtic are only three points better in first. Ye, we've seen this before from several SPL clubs. And yes, the likelihood that one or both of the Old Firm end up stacking on points and winning the league by a dozen is, well, likely.
The last time we didn't get an Old Firm finish was in 2005 when Hearts finished second. They got the better of Rangers by a point that season, but trailed Celtic by 17. Last season, it was Rangers leading Celtic by four, and Celtic leading third-place Hearts by 23 points.
With the reality of previous seasons suggesting third-place as the target for every SPL club outside of Glasgow, we return to point number one. Even a single season where Rangers aren't operating at full strength, and the SPL might finally open up. At least a little. For the rest of those clubs so easily shunned by the Glasgow elite, that's something.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
