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Monday, 22 April, 2002, 08:55 GMT 09:55 UK
Celtic chief hits back
Stilian Petrov challenges Christian Nerlinger and Billy Dodds
Quinn says Scottish football would suffer without Celtic or Rangers
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has warned that the 10 top-flight clubs outside the Old Firm are taking a huge risk by going it alone.

He also believes that the quality of football in Scotland would suffer without Glasgow's big two.

The Parkhead club and their city rivals Rangers were surprised when the nation's other top flight clubs announced their intention to resign from the Scottish Premier League in two years' time.

The decision came after the Old Firm vetoed proposals for an SPL television channel.


Scottish football will fall even further in reputation and esteem
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn
Speaking publicly on the issue for the first time, the Celtic chief predicted the other 10 clubs will struggle to survive without the Old Firm's participation in the same league.

At Sunday night's Celtic Hall of Fame dinner, Quinn said: "Celtic and Rangers are responsible for 80% of the revenue from televised football and yet we receive only 32%.

"For the rest of the Premier League clubs to talk about leaving us behind represents a huge gamble and could be interpreted as a decision that's been taken in anger.

"It will result in smaller squads with less skilled players and the kind of football that will have no meaningful part in a European context.

"Standards among the ten are likely to decline even further and Scottish football will fall even further in reputation and esteem.

"Celtic want no part of such a set-up. Our ambitions have to be greater than that.

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn
"We are trying to restore our reputation as one of Europe's leading clubs and we will not volunteer to be part of a league that is designed to be minor and peripheral.

"We intend to use the time available to explore all the options available to us. There is no cause to rush or panic.

"We are not without resources and we are certainly not without resolve.

"If the ten believe that putting a gun to our heads will cause us to roll over and accept their demands, they will learn otherwise.

"Celtic may not elect to leave the SPL, but in the meantime we shall not be moved."

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