Historical Question About the SPL, Celtic, and Rangers

[BVilleggiante]

As a newcomer to the SPL I've been doing a little research about the history of the SPL and the game in general. On thing that has really stood out to me (obvioiusly) is the domination of the league every year by the old firms.

My question is, is the governing body of the SPL doing anything to insure a more competitive league in years to come, or are the old firms expected to dominate into the future? In other words is the gap growing closer or wider? If the governing body is trying to create more competitive balance, how are they doing so?

The reason I ask is I see a huge problem with the domination of the same two teams every year, and the success of Scottish Football. In other words, if you know your team can't win from the beginning then some people will feel, "why watch at all"? In the long-term, this to me, is sucidal to the league and their shareholders.

Please inform me.

[arthurduncan]

sorry mate I know you are new round here and are ignorant in the ways of SCottish football - there are in fact three massive teams in Scotland - Celtic and Rangers obviously, but also next year's Champions League winners Hearts. The SFA need do nothing as Mr Romanov is doing absolutely all that is require to break the OF hegemony.
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[HibeeZab]

the old firm dont just dominate scottish football in terms of the league, but in life in general. i grew up in galashiels (a town about 40 or so miles south of edin and around 80 miles from glasgow) and even at primary school, rangers & celtic tops dominated P.E. classes etc. yes there a fair few hibbys and jambo's down in gala, but the OF dominate. this would appear to be the norm in most towns in scotland. there's probably more OF fans in falkirk than falkirk fans! it comes down to glory hunting IMO, and is passed down the generations. Thankfully all my family are hibbys (barr one foolish yam) and so am I. wouldn't have it any other way! GGTTH
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[SlovSam]

Originally Posted by BVilleggiante
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As a newcomer to the SPL I've been doing a little research about the history of the SPL and the game in general. On thing that has really stood out to me (obvioiusly) is the domination of the league every year by the old firms.

My question is, is the governing body of the SPL doing anything to insure a more competitive league in years to come, or are the old firms expected to dominate into the future? In other words is the gap growing closer or wider? If the governing body is trying to create more competitive balance, how are they doing so?

The reason I ask is I see a huge problem with the domination of the same two teams every year, and the success of Scottish Football. In other words, if you know your team can't win from the beginning then some people will feel, "why watch at all"? In the long-term, this to me, is sucidal to the league and their shareholders.

Please inform me.

Neither the SPL or the overall governing body are doing anything to prevent the gruesome twosome's continual domination though short of introducing a handicap situation there is really nothing they can do.

Scottish football like the rest of the world (apart from the corrupt Eastern European leagues) operates on a completely free market basis so players naturally gravitate to the club that pays the most money and with Bosman I and Bosman II it is becoming less likely for the smaller clubs to even get a transfer fee.

All Hibs supporters know we can't win the league and the vast majority understand Hibs can't really be second but following football in Scotland and indeed throughout the world is about belonging,
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identity
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and hope
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It isn't about winning otherwise football wouldn't exist as there would only be 8/10 teams in operation.
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[hibadelic]

Originally Posted by SlovSam
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Neither the SPL or the overall governing body are doing anything to prevent the gruesome twosome's continual domination though short of introducing a handicap situation there is really nothing they can do.

Sharing SPL income and TV income equally amongst the clubs regardless of who wins or who is shown on TV would be a start.

[HibeePaddy]

3 nil at Ibrox twice (including beating them three times running)
beating hearts
winning the cis cup
bloody hell even that gloriuos ten minute period this season we were battering the celtic team that had beat man utd

theres a few recent examples of what watching hibs is all about
The fact we dont get a huge amount of success makes these victorys or trophies all the more sweeter and i wouldnt change it for the World!

Hail, Hail

[hibeeshibs]

Originally Posted by HibeePaddy
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3 nil at Ibrox twice (including beating them three times running)
beating hearts
winning the cis cup
bloody hell even that gloriuos ten minute period this season we were battering the celtic team that had beat man utd

theres a few recent examples of what watching hibs is all about
The fact we dont get a huge amount of success makes these victorys or trophies all the more sweeter and i wouldnt change it for the World!

Hail, Hail

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[persevered]

They do dominate and it does come down to glory hunters. There are not too many Cetic and Ranger fans within born-and-bred Edinburgh folk unless they have some misguided (bigoted) reason for following one of the old firm.

It is sad but it happens all over in places like Livingston and Gala that are geogrphically closer than Glasgow. It could be argued that Hibs and Hearts take fans away from smaller teams too so cannot complain too much.

All we can do as Hibees is make sure our sons and daughter are guided towards the light because when they grow up and watch Hibs win a cup final like we did this year it will mean much more to them than 20 cups supporting another team.

Following Hibs is not about glory hunting, the outpouring of hate on another group or win at all cost pub football.


GGTTH.

[BVilleggiante]

Thanks for the replies.

And win or lose, I'll be a Hibby till the day is done.