Celtic and Rangers face ‘disastrous’ £40m reality as ‘terrible’ trap door opens
Scottish clubs led by Celtic and Rangers are facing an uphill battle if they want to qualify for European competition next season.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, amid Scotland being 18th in UEFA’s country coefficient rankings.
Scotland is set to have just one club in the Champions League next season, and all teams will have to navigate qualifying rounds to reach the league phase.
Previously, Scotland had two places up for grabs in the Champions League, with the safety net of the Europa League, which Celtic and Rangers have both competed in this season.
‘Scottish coefficient is in a disastrous position’
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that fewer clubs in European competition will hit Scottish football financially.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks European competition will now be “very tough” for Scottish clubs to qualify for.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s absolutely terrible for Scottish football. The way the coefficient is worked, it’s done over a five-year span.
“And so, when you look at those last five years that are going to be calculated for Scottish football, it means we’re about 18th in the rankings and only the first 15 get those two spots. So it’s going to be disastrous for Scottish football.
“I mean, Celtic have had about £40million from the Champions League in the last season or so. That’s a lot of money in Scotland, as we know. We know the broadcast deal is nowhere near the Premier League. And it was always the fact that Celtic and Rangers always had the extra European money.
“Now that isn’t going to be happening. Now, you’re also looking at clubs that, you know, unless the Scottish Cup winners are already qualified within the top three or four clubs, getting into even the Conference League playoffs is going to be very hard to do.
“The Europa League is going to be very tough to qualify for. So they’re going to be starting in the very, very early qualifying rounds, if at all, depending on how the Scottish Cup goes as well. And so, yes, the Scottish coefficient is in a disastrous position. And I say 18th League in coefficient in Europe is disastrous for Scotland.”
- Read More: Celtic ‘set for windfall’: The hidden revenue boost revealed ahead of massive Rangers showdown
Hearts looking to break Celtic and Rangers record
Celtic’s and Rangers’ chances of European football next season would be helped by winning the Scottish Premiership title.
Hearts though are currently four points clear at the top of the table, meaning they would progress into the Champions League qualifying rounds.
It would be the first time a side outside of Celtic or Rangers has won the league since Aberdeen in 1985, with 10 games left for Hearts to hold on to top spot.