Champions League development to raise financial stakes for Rangers and Celtic in title race
Dan Plumley believes Scottish football losing its automatic Champions League spot for the 2025/26 season raises the title stakes for Rangers and Celtic.
It comes after ESPN journalist Dale Johnson tweeted on 11 April that Viktoria Plzen’s draw against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League took the Czech Republic above Scotland in the coefficient rankings.
The football finance expert claims this will add more spice to the Scottish Premiership title race from a financial standpoint as top spot will become “more lucrative”, with this being the last year that either side can automatically secure their place in the competition.
When asked if the title is more vital for the Glasgow rivals this season following the news, he exclusively told Ibrox News: “I think if you look at the finances of it, for sure.
“It certainly means it’s more high stakes for this title with it being the last one where the coefficient score will mean the winners go directly into the group stage, but won’t be there the following year.
“It’s always heightened pressure at the top of the Scottish Premiership with Rangers and Celtic over who’s going to win the title.
“But there is added spice to that from a financial side of things this year, given now we know what’s happening with the coefficient that it becomes more lucrative.
“It certainly ramps up the stakes going into the final part of the season.”
More pressure added to Rangers and Celtic title race
The stakes surrounding the title were already extremely high in Scotland due to the rivalry between the two Old Firm clubs, but the latest Champions League development could take it to another level.
They will know that the extra money on offer is important to allow them to continue pushing forward and improve their squad over the coming years.
As Plumley points out, both sides will want to secure their place automatically in the competition given that it’s the last year they can do that in their battle for the title.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has torn into the Gers players after what they did against Ross County.
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