Kieran Maguire drops ‘£29m’ double-your-money Rangers claim after big development
Rangers cannot afford to miss out on Champions League qualification again with £29million on the line next season.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the financial benefits of Europe in Rangers’ rivalry with Celtic.
The Glasgow giants narrowly missed out on a spot in the Champions League group stages this season after losing 7-3 to PSV in their two-legged play-off tie.
Rangers reached the competition last year but finished last in their group without earning a single point from their six matches.
Michael Beale’s side will now look to pip Celtic to the league title in order to qualify directly for the Champions League in 2024/25 – when a new Swiss-style format is introduced.
Maguire explains that the new format next season means qualification to the Champions League is worth £29million instead of the £14million earned previously from reaching the group stage.
“Glasgow is a city where finishing second is finishing nowhere as far as fans are concerned,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Rangers’ failure to qualify for the Champions League this year does put them at a significant disadvantage.
“That is likely to be amplified next year given that the participation fees for reaching the Champions League group stage is set to double to around £29million.
“So that will be their main focus for the rest of the season as finishing first guarantees them a spot in the group stages.
“Rangers have enough money to cope, but given where they are in the table and the ferocity of the rivalry with Celtic, they are currently looking up rather than down.“
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