Plans for an ambitious Atlantic League have been set a major setback as Celtic’s participation in talks were ended after major shareholder Dermot Desmond decided to pull out of talks. The Daily Record reports that the league would have been made up of the top five teams from Scotland, Denmark and Sweden, four from Norway and one from Ireland.
Desmond shelved Celtic’s involvement as it seems the Irishman is more in favour the current set up or of a British Isles league concept, even though there was success in obtaining underwriting of one billion euros for the project. If the proposals went ahead access to the Atlantic League would have been gained with a promotion or relegation set up from the SPFL, but participation in UEFA club competitions would have ceased.
But exactly what teams would have been involved and would it have been enough to whet the appetite of the Celtic fans?
You would assume that from Scotland the four other teams involved would most likely be Rangers, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Motherwell from past results and league standings.
From Sweden the likes of Malmo, AIK, Norrkoping, Djurgarden and IFK Gothenburg would be in the mix or Hammarby and Helsingborgs IF would also be in contention.
For the Danish participants you would have the choice of FC Midtjylland, Brondby IF, Aalborg BK, FC Copenhagen and AFG Aaruhus or possibly Lyngby BK and FC Nordsjaelland.
The Norwegians have European pedigree with Rosenberg, Viking FK, Valerenga and Molde although Odd and Bodo/Glimit could also throw their names in and for the club from Ireland the main choice is most likely to be Shamrock Rovers.
Would the Celtic fans have really given up the glamour of European football indefinitely in favour of this supposed “Atlantic League”? Personally I can’t see it. Never to see the like of Barcelona, Lazio, Liverpool et al grace Parkhead for the top teams from the Scandinavian Leagues would never really cut it.