Good read from bbc sport (malky, old firm, welsh wigan ,

Cardiff City will next season become the second Welsh club to play in the English Premier League.

But their Scottish manager Malky Mackay has expressed sympathies for their Glasgow counterparts who have long coveted but also been denied a place in the world's richest league.

Celtic and Rangers' desires to somehow become part of the lucrative English set-up have been met by brick wall after brick wall, but the big Welsh clubs' historical affiliation with English football means they are now reaping the riches of the EPL.
With television contracts worth £5.5bn over the next three years, the EPL will be able to hand out in the region of £60m to the club finishing bottom next season, with the SPL champions receiving about £2m.

"Of course I can see the argument of Celtic and Rangers wanting to compete in Europe and not having the financial ability to do that because of the media deal for the likes of Wigan and Swansea of the English Premier League, who don't have anywhere near the pulling power in terms of attendances of those clubs," Mackay told BBC Sport at Cardiff's Vale training complex.
"What can be done about it? I don't know. Scottish football has always had its own leagues, so to then say you want to play in another league because there's more money in that league, I'm not sure that argument stacks up."
So how does Scottish football get itself out of the seemingly deepening rut in which it finds itself?
"For that you need Rangers back in the top division. The sooner that happens, the interest comes back from media and let's make no bones about it, the commercial deal with the media is what makes the Premier League in England what it is.
"Certainly Rangers being back in playing against Celtic and fighting for the title with Celtic is the first step for that to happen."
Mackay's preparations for life in the EPL have already begun in earnest, with a mooted £25m transfer budget at his disposal, but despite the riches that accompany life in England's top flight, Mackay doesn't believe clubs like Cardiff can become bigger than the Old Firm.
"Those clubs are worldwide institutions. The pulling power and fanbase of those two clubs are astronomical, incredible," he added.
"What we're talking about at the moment is the lack of ability to bring in the finances to be able to secure top-level players. That is the difference.

"If you play in the Premier League in England, you have the ability to do that, no matter what size of club you are. When I talk about Fulham, Wigan and Swansea, they're clubs who normally get 20,000 people at their games and under, whereas both Celtic and Rangers can fill stadiums galore.
"It's purely because of the ability to play in the English Premier League that those clubs can fund players who can come in and raise the standards of their football club. Celtic and Rangers can't do that and I understand how galling it must be for them, but at the same time I don't see how that changes."
Cardiff director Steve Borley, though, believes there could come a time where his club leaves even the biggest, most successful Scottish clubs behind.
"Forget what the attendances are: the attendance revenues are insignificant compared with TV revenue and other external revenues. So in terms of turnover levels, the Premier League's significantly outstripping the Scottish clubs and that will be a problem for them," he explained.
"It's a completely different level. TV revenues, for instance, are something like 60 times what you'd get in the Championship.
"Every aspect of the commercial operation will be multiples of what it was in the Championship.
"Whereas you'd be knocking on people's doors to sponsor the club, all of a sudden they're knocking on your door. You're talking about a global product and global exposure and that brings a different level of income."
Despite the contrasting fortunes of the Scottish and English leagues, Mackay believes the job of managing either Celtic or Rangers will remain a position with genuine allure for high-calibre coaches.
"I think the ability to go and beat Barcelona and play them in the Nou Camp and have your fans there is a huge draw for a football manager. Neil Lennon deserves huge credit," he continued.
"Both of those positions are still as coveted as the days of John Greig and Billy McNeill."

Glad to see your Director realises how insignificant crowds are. It seems the most important aspect of a football club on here.

I think Malkys wrong with what he said about Swansea and Cardiff not being able to be as big as Rangers and Celtic. He forgets both clubs have been in the lower leagues for a number of decades. If Cardiff and Swansea can compete in the top flight for the next 10-20 years I honestly believe we could both fill 40-50,000 Capacity stadiums.

The only reason Celtic and Rangers are so well known is becuase of the history and rivalry between the both clubs

I think Malkys wrong with what he said about Swansea and Cardiff not being able to be as big as Rangers and Celtic. He forgets both clubs have been in the lower leagues for a number of decades. If Cardiff and Swansea can compete in the top flight for the next 10-20 years I honestly believe we could both fill 40-50,000 Capacity stadiums.

The only reason Celtic and Rangers are so well known is becuase of the history and rivalry between the both clubs

Celtic & Rangers are huge clubs with huge support. You only need to look at when Rangers made the UEFA Cup Final when well over 200,000 Rangers fans went to Manchester!

We might be able to fill a 40-50K stadium but the old firm could fill a stadium double that size & Imagine what it would be like if they were in the PL.

I think MM was spot on with what he said.

I think Malkys wrong with what he said about Swansea and Cardiff not being able to be as big as Rangers and Celtic. He forgets both clubs have been in the lower leagues for a number of decades. If Cardiff and Swansea can compete in the top flight for the next 10-20 years I honestly believe we could both fill 40-50,000 Capacity stadiums.

The only reason Celtic and Rangers are so well known is becuase of the history and rivalry between the both clubs

Celtic & Rangers are huge clubs with huge support. You only need to look at when Rangers made the UEFA Cup Final when well over 200,000 Rangers fans went to Manchester!

We might be able to fill a 40-50K stadium but the old firm could fill a stadium double that size & Imagine what it would be like if they were in the PL.

I think MM was spot on with what he said.

well said and fully agree with you. The fans they brought to manchester that day was unreal!!

You think about when you go abroad thats all u see is rangers, man u and celtic tops!!! They are really big clubs and we will never be the size of thos not in my life time any way.

Celtic and Rangers are two if the biggest clubs on the planet.
Due to sheer amount of plastics and religious reasons they compared to us and Swansea are on a complete different level.

Celtic and Rangers are two if the biggest clubs on the planet.
Due to sheer amount of plastics and religious reasons they compared to us and Swansea are on a complete different level.

The sectarianism in Scotland is a major part of the problem. Honestly think that we are better off without either of them. Massive clubs, but too much baggage. Celtic, in particular, would find their pro-IRA songs unwelcome. Rangers took a huge support to Manchester, but hardly covered themselves in glory, or endeared themselves to the locals.

As far as football goes, they are in the same position as other big clubs in smaller countries and leagues. For example, Ajax, Feyenoord, Benfica, Red Star Belgrade, Anderlecht, etc. Perhaps some kind of European league could help them, but that might undermine the CL. Looks like they are stuck!