Charlie Austin has rekindled the long-running discussion over Rangers and Celtic joining the English football pyramid after both clubs had catastrophic European debuts, with Derek McInness’ side currently out of continental competition.

Celtic endured a stunning Champions League exit. Rangers were first eliminated from the Europa League before losing their Conference League play-off to Jablonec on penalties, while Celtic blew a 3-0 first-leg lead against LASK to lose their Champions League tie 5-4 on aggregate despite leading 4-0 at one point.

Charlie Austin’s words have reignited one of British football’s most intriguing hypothetical debates: can Rangers and Celtic ever leave Scotland and join the English football pyramid? Is that in the Premier League or the Championship?

Charlie Austin’s thoughts on Rangers and Celtic joining English football.

It is a concept that would very certainly receive widespread approval. Some analysts, past players, and fans would welcome the entry of two of Britain’s largest teams into English football, saying that regular Old Firm involvement in the Premier League would attract large crowds, television attention, and some truly blockbuster games.

Austin responded to the prospect of entering the English league system in an interview with The Charlie Austin Football Channel on YouTube. He answered, “Listen, they won’t do that. That is merely chatter due of the scale of the football clubs, stadiums, fan bases, and so on. This is why they are rumoured to join the Premier League.Like I stated, I believe they will suffer in the Championship.

To be honest, we’d say mid-table. Do you believe they’d get promoted if they played 46 games? I do not think so. Look, getting into the European competition is a huge deal for these clubs. Celtic and Rangers have failed to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, despite their importance.They’ve failed badly. The players from both clubs have drawn attention to the football club and its following, sparking conversations among all parties involved.That’s almost why.

How? Celtic, for the sake of argument, go four up. The game ends 5-1, despite being four up. The thing is, I believe I heard on the radio yesterday that one of the bookies said Celtic had a 98% probability. “It was one to 66, and I believe they were to qualify for the next round.”It was a surrender. The performance was shambolic. Martin O’Neill represents the period of the manager in which everything revolves around him and not the players.

However, as time passes, the focus shifts to the players on the pitch.But the momentum was there. The momentum was moving. You can sense it when a game is on and slipping away. You simply need to break it up. Do something! It was as if Celtic was ultimately a battle of men versus boys, and that may still be the case. People tend to forget.Look, they’re playing against themselves.

Celtic and Rangers play each other three or four times, correct? Yes, Hearts looked different last year. Normally, it is not, but last year, it was a three-way tie. “Don’t tell me there are any other difficult games.”That is not being impolite. I’m just gazing at it, like, ‘Do you know what? Everyone lifts their game when they get to Celtic Park or Ibrox’. Absolutely. Why shouldn’t you? Other than that,

what is their test? What is their test where they all perform at their best? Where are they all at their peak?”Because they just need to be a seven out of ten or eight out of ten most weeks to win with the quality that they all have in their teams compared to the rest of Scotland.”

Charlie Austin’s verdict is supported by current occurrences.

There is a counter-argument to Austin’s comments: both clubs could benefit competitively. Celtic and Rangers have frequently dominated Scottish football domestically, but their recent European losses have underscored the challenges they face when venturing outside of that environment.

Rangers’ terrible qualification campaign has left them with no European football this season, although Celtic’s collapse against LASK was almost as costly. A relocation south could provide the week-in, week-out rivalry that some believe they require.

However, there would be great pushback. Many English fans would simply question why two Scottish clubs should be permitted into a pyramid that includes clubs who have spent decades attempting to earn their way into the Premier League. There would also be serious concerns about where they would enter the system and the potential harm their departure could do to Scottish football.

For some, the concept is thrilling and commercially appealing. Others believe it is fundamentally unjust and should never happen. That is why, despite Austin’s latest intervention, the idea of Rangers and Celtic playing in England continues to divide football fans for years to come.

Charlie Austin is not best suited to understanding Celtic and Rangers.

Austin might have a point, especially given his significant familiarity with English football. The former striker appeared in 451 games across all four professional divisions, and his tenure with Burnley, QPR, Southampton, and West Brom provided him with a thorough understanding of the Championship’s needs.

Charlie Austin’s Career Statistics (Selected Clubs)

Club

Appearances and Goals

Assists

Swindon Town: 133, Burnley: 90, 44, 7; QPR: 148, 61, 12; Southampton: 81, 20; West Bromwich Albion: 45.

11 2

He also made 111 Premier League matches and scored 34 goals. That means he is well-positioned to assess how Rangers and Celtic might do in the Premier League or Championship. They may, however, add a lot to the English pyramid, as both have large fan bases, a rich history, and commercial appeal to pique attention.

That is why his opinion should be tempered slightly, given Austin has never played for either Old Firm club and cannot completely comprehend the specific pressures or scale that come with representing them. He cannot completely grasp their level unless he has played for one of them against Scottish opposition from lower down the Scottish Premiership.