• Scottish football

Rangers owner calls for European super league

Charles Green wants Rangers to be part of a European super league © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Green: Scottish football is a mess
  
• News: Rangers chief apologises to Villa over jibe
  

Rangers chief executive Charles Green has reopened the debate about a European super league, and claimed the Glasgow giants would be an obvious candidate to help initiate its formation.

Green, who made the comments as the club unveiled plans to raise funds by listing on the London Stock Exchange, also singled out a number of Premier League sides as not fitting the criteria for his vision, labelling Southampton a 'small team' and Aston Villa 'useless'.

Rangers are currently in the Scottish Third Division after succumbing to a string of financial problems this summer but, according to Green, they still warrant a place at football's top table alongside the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United.

He said: "There will be a European league because big teams can't keep subsidising small teams like Southampton for the next 10 years because they will go stale. Arsenal don't want to play Southampton or Swansea, but ask them if they want to play Celtic or Rangers. It's what the fans want to see.

"Fans across the world want to see Manchester United play Barcelona, not just once every few years but every season. If there are two divisions of 18 clubs, how could Rangers not be a part of that?

"I'm convinced it will happen because otherwise where will the revenues for the top come from? These days Arsenal are struggling to sell out their game against West Ham. How can Manchester United's revenues be £320 million and Aston Villa, who are completely useless, get £250m?

"It all comes from Sky and it's not decided by what a club puts in. What Manchester United put into world football is massive, but what they take out of it is a joke and they won't put up with that for much longer."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.