Rangers in line for £10m ‘insurance policy’ as Champions League news emerges
Rangers will bank around £10million if they drop down into the Europa League at the expense of PSV, according to the Daily Record.
Michael Beale’s side take on the Dutch outfit in a two-legged Champions League play-off, with the winners going into the group stages.
The first leg takes place at Ibrox on Tuesday (22 August), with the second leg scheduled for next Wednesday (30 August) in the Netherlands.
“Gers will need to hit the ground running themselves on Tuesday as they look to clear the final hurdle blocking their path to the group stages and a £20million payday,” according to the Daily Record.
“Gers’ previous exploits on the continent mean they start this year’s campaign with a Europa League insurance policy safely tucked in Beale’s back pocket.
“Dropping down into Uefa’s second-tier tournament does come at a cost though and would see the club bank around £10million less than if they join the European elite in the Champions League.”
Silver lining
Champions League qualification will, of course, be the priority for everyone connected with Rangers, with a bright start needed against PSV to ensure the Scottish club head to the Netherlands in the ascendancy.
Failure to qualify won’t be the end of Beale’s time at Ibrox, but it will heap immense pressure on the manager, who is already feeling the heat after a mixed start to the new season.
Rangers have progressed in Europe and have picked up wins in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup, but they also lost their first league match of the new campaign at Kilmarnock.
Moreover, even when they have won matches, they have often been far from convincing, with many of the club’s new signings not exactly hitting the ground running.
If Champions League qualification isn’t secured, there is at least the silver lining of the Europa League, both in terms of money and in playing top quality opponents.
In other Rangers news, new Championship competition has emerged for one Gers player linked with an Ibrox exit this summer.