Rangers return to Premiership 'good news', says SPFL chief Neil Doncaster

By Mike Patterson

Image: Rangers players celebrate their return to the Scottish Premiership

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has welcomed the return of Rangers to the Scottish Premiership.

The Ibrox side ended their four-year absence from the top-flight by beating Dumbarton 1-0 on Tuesday night to secure the Championship title.

They will be locking horns with Glasgow rivals Celtic in the league once again next year and Doncaster is delighted by the prospect of having the big derby games back on the calendar.

"It's great news for Rangers fans all over the world and, I think, good news for Scottish football as well," Doncaster told Sky Sports News HQ.

"We've got an appetiser in 10 days' time with the Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers, but we've got four pretty big main courses to look forward to next year."

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Four years after Rangers' demotion to Scotland's lowest league, here's a brief look at the Glasgow giants' return to the top tier of Scottish football.

Doncaster added: "There are also games against Hearts and Aberdeen, which are big games in their own right, and clearly that's going to drive eyeballs, that's going to drive interest, and that should translate into more commercial revenues for the benefit of all 42 clubs.

"When you travel overseas and talk to leagues across the world, the games between Rangers and Celtic are global events and they are games other leagues will talk about all over the world.

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"So to have those games back, to have the increased level of interest, that can only help in marketing the whole game worldwide."

Image: SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster is looking forward to having Rangers back in the Premiership

Doncaster does, however, believe that the game has thrived in Scotland in recent years despite the absence of Rangers from the Premiership.   

He said: "Rangers over the past few years that they have been in the lower divisions, they have brought thousands of fans all over the country and that's had a huge benefit to clubs all around the country in the lower leagues.

Neil Lennon believes that having Rangers back in the top flight will help bring more money back into Scottish football.

"It's been a tumultuous time for Rangers and also Scottish football over that period, but over that period the game has thrived nonetheless and we've ended up with our biggest ever title sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes and also our biggest ever overseas television deal.

"So the game remains in good health despite the absence of Rangers from the top-flight. But, of course, we shouldn't be any doubt at all Rangers coming back into the top flight next year will help the whole game."

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