Celtic could blow Rangers away with £40m windfall – Keith Wyness
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness has revealed Celtic could earn up to £40million more than Rangers if their rivals don’t qualify for the Champions League group stages next season.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted Rangers can’t compete with their Old Firm rivals if they don’t progress through the Champions League qualifying rounds.
Celtic booked their automatic place in the group stages of European football’s premier competition after claiming the Scottish Premiership title last season.
But the league winners next season will not automatically qualify for the Champions League in the 2025-26 campaign after Scotland dropped out of the Uefa coefficient rankings top 10.
Celtic could profit from potential Rangers disappointment
Wyness believes it’s crucial Rangers secure their place in the Champions League this summer to avoid being hit with any early-season disappointment.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s absolutely crucial to try and bridge that gap.
“If Celtic qualify and Rangers don’t manage to, that’s going to widen the gap by another £30-40million.
“Rangers can’t compete if they are not getting that sort of revenue themselves.
“They have got to try and qualify for the group stages. Everybody knows how crucial that is.
“But it comes so early in the season and, if they don’t succeed, that impacts the psychology going forward into the season.”
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