Dermot Desmond says it is 'inevitable' Celtic and Rangers join Premier League

Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond believes 'inevitable changes in football' will see his side join the Premier League.

The Irish businessman is convinced the Scottish champions, and fellow-Glasgow side Rangers - currently playing in the Scottish Championship - are among the biggest clubs in the world and belong on a larger stage.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ from the Dunhill Links golf event in Scotland, Desmond, who previously held a stake in Manchester United, said: "I think it is inevitable there will be changes in football. 

"We would like to compete in the holy grail in England because it would bring money into Scotland for players.

"It would bring big teams up to Scotland and rekindle the interest in soccer by having the United's and Arsenal's up here.

"Maybe it is going to be 10 years but I think it is inevitable. Rangers and Celtic are among the top 10 biggest teams in Britain, and among the biggest teams in the world, and they should be competing at the highest level."

Asked if he thought the Premier League would allow them to join, he added: "Well, it depends on what Premier League there will be in 10 years' time."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila is refusing to rule out a move down south although doubts any switch will take place in the near future.

Speaking ahead of the Europa League tie against Fenerbahce on Thursday, he said: "I think that could be possible but again it's not easy to do things very quickly in Britain.

"It takes time but I think Celtic is a team that should be playing the best and have an opportunity to be playing in the best league and hopefully in the end we can get into the Premier League or a British League."

In 2009 English clubs voted against the Glasgow sides joining the Premier League with its chief executive Richard Scudamore claiming it was a 'non starter'.

I think that could be possible but again it's not easy to do things very quickly in Britain.

At the time, he said: "We have made a clear and unequivocal statement and we're going to move on from there. No means no."

Desmond has also given his full support to Deila despite the Norwegian's failure to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League for the second successive season.

"I think Ronny has done a good job," he said. "He will always acknowledge the mistakes and that he is on a learning curve, but we are very confident about his future at Celtic.  

"He has shown that he is playing very attractive football, played attractive football last year and better football again this year and I think as the season goes on you will see a new style at Celtic.

"He develops players. Because we are not a buying club, we are more a selling club because of the nature of the TV money in Scotland, I believe that he can develop players and develop Celtic into a competitive European team."

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And Deila welcomed Desmond's comments, saying: "We have a fantastic leader in him and also in Peter (Lawwell, chief executive) so that's important to feel united and that they have the same thoughts about things.

"We talk a lot together and we know what we want to do and I agree with him. I think we are progressing all the time and what we need is consistency in everything we do."