The Premier League has rejected a plan to bring Celtic and Rangers into English football's top flight.

The Old Firm pair had hoped to be part of new plans put forward by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside for a two-tier league of between 36 and 40 teams.

It was thought that there would be a top tier of 18 clubs, with promotion and relegation to and from the league.

The SPL pair would have been invited to join the lower league but the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected.

The Premier League said in a statement: "Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideas concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tiers with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers.

"The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.

"The other relevant ideas contained within Bolton's paper will now be taken forward as part of the wider strategic review being undertaken by the Premier League since November 2008 with the aim of providing recommendations before December 2010."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had backed the inclusion of the Scottish clubs in the Premier League.

The proposals were a revival of Gartside's ideas which received a hostile reception from the Premier League's 20 chairmen six months ago.

Who wants those dirty sweaties in our league. Leave them to rot in the SPL. The fans are all a bunch of thugs anyway.

Even Swansea and Cardiff were accepted into the english league years back. Just goes to show how unappealing Celtic & Rangers are.

Good decision.

What happens to the Scottish league if Rangers and Celtic leave. No one's really put much thought into that. The SPL would end up being like the Dr Martins Premier. Would that mean Hearts would end up in the Champions League every season or would Rangers or Celtic have to get in the Prem top 4 for a Scottish team to compete in Europe?

It's not our fault that the Premier League is much better than the SPL. They're all for not being part of England when it comes to parliament. They'll just have to stick to having a separate football league as well.

I never thought about it like that, good point. Imagine Hibernian v Real Madrid. What a turn off.

They even let Wrexham in!

who says that Rangers and Celtic would do any good anyway - it would be so funny if we let them in and they went down in their first season!

Fucking Wrexham! I'm sure if any of the welsh teams from the english league were playing in the League Of Wales then they would be 'decorated' with a two bob championship like the scottish.

Does that mean the welsh teams are officially a better club than Rangers and Celtic?

Come to think of it, I think Newport and Merthyr also play in the lower English leagues.

Newport County AFC play in the Conference South

I guess we could find out next season if they both make it to the Premiership. I'm betting most clubs hope they don't ..

Celtic and Rangers should have lowered their sights a bit more and maybe started here. May have been more chance of them getting in.

I think it would have been unfair for them to be let in. AFC Wimbledon had to start from the bottom, why should the scottish get special treatment.

Merthyr Tydfil are currently laying 2nd bottom in the Zamaretto League Premier

I had to Google that as I thought you were joking. Is it an ice cream?

It's Amaretto for Connoisseurs apparently

And Berwick play in the Scottish league .. so basically Welsh teams play in England, English teams play in Scotland, but Scottish teams just play with themselves.

Would Phil Gartside be as keen to see both teams in the Prem at the expense of Bolton ? If it were decided to allow them in and the league stayed at 20 teams ?

Good , we dont need or want the scottish beggars. Let them procrastinate in there own peasant league. Get the welsh out aswell, its not the british premier league, its the english premier league.
Although I do love a good old cardiff v millwall fixture

celtic and rangers r 2 average teams playin in a league of shit teams. if they played in the prem they would b fightin 4 survival every season and they wouldn't atract the foriegn players they do now as they're only there for guaranteed european football

Course he wouldnt you fucking idiot, thats the stupidest thing i've ever read.

Crazy fool.

It was his motion you fat moron...

So either two teams have to be dropped out of the Prem or Two teams dont get promotion.