Kris Boyd’s Transfer Would be a New Low for Scottish Football

By: Daryl | January 8th, 2009

Scottish Premier League fans – of any persuasion – should be crossing their fingers and hoping Kris Boyd’s transfer from Rangers to Birmingham City doesn’t go through.

It’s no secret that there’s more money and stronger competition south of the border, and it’s not hard to understand players wanting to trade Premier Leagues. But when the top scorer in Scotland (Boyd has 20 goals in 21 games) is moving to an English Championship team, it’s time to start worrying about Scottish football.

This isn’t the first time Birmingham City has dealt Scottish football a blow. Back in 2007 they poached then Scottish national team manager Alex McLeish, who apparently preferred an (unsuccessful) Premier League relegation battle to taking a stab at World Cup 2010 qualification with the Tartan Army.

But at least Blues were in the Prem back then. And while they’re currently third in the Championship and look a decent bet for promotion, it’s by no means guaranteed.

It’s not 100% clear whether Boyd sees a move to Birmingham as a step up, and – weirdly – there’s some comfort for Scottish football in that Boyd’s departure is probably part of a Rangers fire sale to solve some cash-flow problems.

But older readers will probably remember a time when the third best club in the Championship buying first team players from one of the Old Firm would have been more or less unthinkable.

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Category: Scottish Premier League

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Iain Noble

Anything negative for the oldfirm is a positive for scottish football. they have done nothing but bullied the rest of the league. forced a split from the football league to get more tv money than the rest of the scottish clubs. It seems anything that happens in glasgow has a negative effect on the whole country. Its a disgrace they tried to join the english league, just trying to wreck things as usuall. selfishness only benefits the ignorant!
andak

no matter how.. dicision must right..
Matt

Also to add, a few reports saying Boyd knocked back McLeish and Birmingham. "Reports" saying Fulham and Sunderland joining the fray.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/h...
Matt

I'm going to have to disagree with you Daryl. This move signifies a problem with one SPL team, Rangers. David Murray and Co. are in the red because of a lack of European football. They are selling Alan Gow, having a "high profile friendly" with AC Milan, among other money making schemes to replace this, but it is strickly with Rangers. Besides Aiden McGeady, which is another story into itself (CHECK OUT THE CELTIC OFFSIDE TO HEAR THAT STORY! SHAMELESS PLUG! SHAMELESS PLUG!), Celtic are not looking to sell and are actually looking to buy this transfer season. Dermont Desmond is 8th richest chairman in all of football. Now, whether he stops being a miser and actually uses that coin is another story, but Celtic are in the market for many players and are only selling the likes of Chris Killen and Massimo Donati who are warming the bench anyways. A Rangers fire sale does not equal trouble for the SPL. In fact, it might bring the parody that everyone claims is missing from the SPL. This might give a Dundee United (haven't lost to an old firm side this season in 4 matches), Hearts, Hibs, etc a chance at the second spot.