Celtic and Rangers’ hopes of joining the Premier League have been dashed after a plan to bring the Old Firm into the top tier of English football was rejected.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside put forward plans to introduce the two clubs into a new-look two-tier Premier League system incorporating between 36 and 40 teams.

Celtic and Rangers’ bid looked good after Martin O’Neill, Alex McLeish and Harry Redknapp all threw their weight behind the Old Firm’s inclusion.

However the duo did not receive an invitation to join the lower league being overwhelmingly rejected and will now continue playing in the Scottish Premier League.

A Premier League statement read: “Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideals concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tier with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers.

“The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of the Premier League set up was not desirable or viable.”