The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 29

Football Tlie Guardian Monday May 1 3 2002 Old Firm wait on club vote for invitation BBBBBBiBBBHHBHBBtteW The answer to that is no but Desmond is aware that change is far from a' formality. Premiership chairmen would also have to be supportive, because Rangers and Celtic would undoubtedly push strongly for promotion from the First Division in their first season. Desmondbelieves thatthe Premiership would not be "monopolistic" about the Old Firm's entry. Desmond's bullishness he bought another million Celtic shares on Friday was mirrored by Murray at Rangers. He has appeared to be less active hi the Old Firm moving but he said yesterday: "They will be proposing on Thursday that member clubs vote for or against an invitation coming to Rangers' and Celtic.

It could happen next season, if there's a will on everyone's part, and we must make sure this chance doesn't pass." However, the Football League chief executive David Burns said there would be no such vote and it was not on the agenda. "Absolute rubbish," said Burns, but it seems he is nowout of step with the rest of the board and chairmen who. are currently looking at next season without television money. There is as yet no television deal settled should Rangers and Celtic make the transition but it is envisaged that one would be forthcoming quickly. After the collapse of rrv Digital the simple economics of the situation are the Old Finn's strongest ally.

OFifa'a general secretary Michel Zen-Rufflnen, who has been mounting a vociferous campaign against the president Sepp Blatter, was yesterday sidelined by the organisation's emergency committee. A Fifa spokesman, Andreas Herren, said financial matters would now be dealt with by the vice-president Julio Gron-dona, a Blatter supporter. Zen-Ruffinen has also been told that, if he continues to talk to the media, he will face disciplinary action. Scottish round-up, page 11 Michael Walker Dermot Desmond, the leading shareholder in Celtic, and David Murray, the chairman of Rangers, said yesterday that at this Thursday's meeting of the board of directors of the Foot-bail League the subject of the Old Firms clubs moving to England would almost certainly be put to a vote. There is a degree of uncertainty as the motion is not on the formal agenda but the chairman of a First Division club is expected to raise the issue.

If it is received favourably by' the Football League board they will recommend that Celtic and Rangers be invited to play in England next season. A second vote, involving the 72 chairmen of the Football League clubs, would then take place, possibly on June 7. If a majority voted yes then, a formal invitation would follow. After that there would still be obstacles, from the Scottish Football Association Bangers and Celtic are obliged to give two years' notice of leaving the Scottish Premier League the Football Association and Uefa, but the tide would be with Celtic and Rangers. If there is to be a restructuring of British football, Thursday therefore becomes a pivotal day, a first concrete indicator of just how much support there is for Rangers' and Celtic's English aspirations.

The Football League chairman Keith Harris met Desmond and Murray in Scotland last week to discuss the plan. Desmond thinks that there is a grassroots ground-swell for the idea and cited the fact that Celtic have once again demonstrated their English pulling power by being invited to be the opposition for Gary Kelly's testimonial at Leeds last week and for Tony Adams's benefit game tonight at Highbury. "I think people should start asking the fans to see what they want," Desmond said yesterday. "Why did Leeds and Arsenal want Celtic for these matches, why did Manchester United want Celtic for the Ryan Giggs match last August? And these games were televised; tell me how many friendlies are "What should be understood is that television'follows the audience, and chairmen follow the audience. Fans' numbers for these games are saying that there is abig audience, people want to see this happen.

I saw a recent poll in England where the question was asked, 'Do you want Celtic and Rangers and 85 said yes. "The presence of Celtic and Rangers would enhance this league in terms of that Are the chairmen going to look a gift-horse in the mouth?" Stoke rise may seal Goppell's fate: lose from the dressing roonv; havings lost Com the in last year's IJV.Vans Trophy final. Stoke'ssuccessJasiattrib-utedto a their dressing ibbm Jpaihted by Andrew Vicari, Britain's highest paid painter, using colours prescribed iibyita'f feng? shui expert. In garishreds; yellows and browns, it depicts asun, a horse and': and proved an immediate success. Previously the'dressing room put teams off tlieirjfpptball; no it pute them off their food Man of the James O'Connor (Stoke City).

have meetings arranged with them, but I do have meetings with other clubs both at home and abroad," he "Whatever happens I know I won't be out of a job." Two terrible goals took Stoke back to the First Division after a four-year absence, the first a close-range poke from peon' Burton, the second an own-goal from Ben Burgess, Brentford's second-top scorer who, having been on loan from Blackburn this season, is also leaving. It is no consolation to the beaten side to know that they made history. of a. sort: by. becoming the first club side to His will not be the only face to leave: the out-of-contract players include, their, top scorer, their team captain and their player of the season.

"I'd like to be part of a club that's ambitious" Coppell said. As the cheers faded on Saturday afternoon, the manager who brought Stoke promotion, Gudjon Thordarson, raised a celebratory glass of champagne to toast the end of his contract, shortened in length last summer from three years to one. The consortium of directors he himself put together and once called his friends have yet to make any attempt to renew it. Simon Bumton at the Millennium Stadium Stoke City 2 Burton 16, Biirgass45ofl Brentford 0 To the winners, the spoils. Which in this case is promotion to the First Division, followed by possible disintegration.

To the losers, only the disintegration. Sometimes there is no happy ending. Many people's choice for the division's manager of the season, Brentford's Steve Coppell, now seems unlikely to be at Griffin Park next season. MMM.