CELTIC HAVE released a statement in which they express the integrity of Scottish football as the main reason behind their opposition to newco Rangers entering the Scottish Premier League.

Rangers’ Old Firm adversaries have also admitted the financial ramifications of losing their main rivals will be “significant” but that the club can survive, and flourish, without the presence of their Glasgow neighbours.

Scottish Premier League clubs voted to reject the newco Rangers application after five hours of talks at Hampden yesterday and the Ibrox club will now start their new life in either the first or third division, with Celtic outlining their reasoning in a statement on the website. It read: “Celtic Football Club today confirmed that it opposed readmission to the Scottish Premier League by Rangers newco.

“Today’s decision to refuse access into the SPL was an overwhelming one and demonstrates the depth of feeling amongst everyone involved in Scottish football.

“Fundamentally, the Celtic board has also been very mindful of the need to take what it believes to be the correct course of action in protecting the integrity of the game in Scotland. Throughout the whole sequence of events leading up to today’s decision the Celtic Board has been of the singular view that the integrity of the game in Scotland is of paramount importance.”