Blue Square Conference clubs are discussing whether to invite Rangers to join their league. Rangers are unhappy about a planned restructuring of the Scottish leagues that would see them languishing in the bottom division even if they won the third division this year.
Blue Square Conference clubs are discussing whether to invite Rangers to join their league. Rangers are unhappy about a planned restructuring of the Scottish leagues that would see them languishing in the bottom division even if they won the third division this year. They have come up with an alternative plan, but its chances of success are limited by the fact that Rangers are only associate members of the Scottish Football League and do not have a vote.
The Conference plan, if it is adopted, would face a number of obstacles. First, it would disrupt promotion and relegation between the Conference divisions and down the non-league pyramid. Second, it would only be attractive to Rangers if the Football League would accept them if they won the Conference. Third, Fifa and the Scottish Football Association would be likely to raise objections.
Fifa’s position has been somewhat undermined by permitting a female league for Belgium and the Netherlands. Of course, there is a difference between a joint league and one club moving, although Berwick Rangers already play in the Scottish league despite being located just over the border in England.
Standard Liege has threatened to apply to join the French league if a male counterpart of the Belgian-Dutch female league is not set up, so the whole issue of teams playing across borders may yet end up in the courts. But it is probably not a practical solution to the problems faced by Rangers.