Rangers and Celtic 'will join English Premier League'

Premier League clubs voted last year to reject a proposal to invite Rangers and Celtic into the English top flight.

But Desmond believes the decision will one day be taken out of the Premier League's hands.

"What will dictate them joining is the fans and the media companies," the Irishman said in an interview which was due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 last night.

"The companies are directing Premier League policy and they'll decide it'll be a good thing if the pair joined."

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's proposal last year suggested that the Glasgow giants would be part of a two-tier Premier League.

But Premier League chief executive Peter Scudamore moved quickly to quash any hopes, saying: "As regards to Celtic and Rangers it's a non-starter.

"So we've made a clear and unequivocal statement and we're going to move on from there. No means no."

Desmond proposed a cap on debts and wages at all clubs but believes it may be too late to prevent some going out of business.

"There should be regulations and rules throughout Europe," he said. "There should be a cap on how much a club can borrow and a cap on wages in relation to its revenue.

"It's important that clubs are not being jeopardised. I'm sure in the next few years we will see some clubs will go out of business."

He was speaking a day after football finance expert Joe McLean warned that English clubs had been living beyond their means for years.