Rangers ‘could bank up to £22m’ after huge new developments – Exclusive
Rangers will face Panathinaikos in the second round of Champions League qualifying at the end of July, with the countdown on.
The winner of the two-legged affair will then progress to the third round of qualifying before a play-off to reach the group stage.
Lyall Cameron agreed a pre-contract with Rangers in February, but the Ibrox club faces a race against time to seal more deals.
With up to £22million on offer for reaching the group stage of the competition, Russell Martin and the Gers must get a move on.
Rangers have a significant financial incentive to progress in Champions League
New signings are seemingly on the horizon at Ibrox, with Max Aarons set to join Rangers on loan from AFC Bournemouth.
Gers supporters would welcome that signing, but Kevin Thelwell has been urged to make haste ahead of their match with Panathinaikos.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley has placed further emphasis on the Bears’ Champions League tie, speaking exclusively to Ibrox News.
“You’re back to that old adage of every little helps on the revenue line,” he said.
“If you win qualifiers and win prize money per fixture, then that does have an impact on the revenue, which is a boost in the short term, in particular.
“We expect those numbers, as we said last season, we’ve not seen the confirmed numbers by UEFA yet, but for Rangers or Celtic into that group stage, as it is now, we were talking minimum £17-22million as a range, so that that’s the price at the end of the qualifying journey.
“You can look at that through the lens of winning every game in that qualifying round helps and will boost a little bit of income, but that also means nothing, ultimately, if you don’t get into the league phase and get that big money.
“I’m sure that’ll be the number one objective, and you’ve got to see that journey through and get to the real money that’s sitting in that group stage.”
49ers must make signings to boost Champions League dream
While Panathinaikos represents a tough-but-beatable opponent, Martin must progress through several rounds of qualifying to reach the Champions League group stage.
If they are to get there, then the 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh must press on with securing signings for the former Southampton boss.
Kwame Poku looks a likely arrival at Ibrox, given he has reportedly chosen a move to Scotland when his contract expires at the end of June at Peterborough.
Aarons and Poku appear set to sign, but Rangers need more to reach their ultimate European goal.
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