On the same day that some Rangers supporting Hearts player is in the papers saying the he hopes Celtic get pumped against RB Leipzig in this evening’s Europa League match (remember we are the early kick-off at 5.55pm), it’s announced that Celtic’s efforts in Europe last season has resulted in today’s £4million windfall for eleven Scottish clubs.
“This is welcome news for the clubs involved in last year’s Ladbrokes Premiership. As well as clear financial benefits for top flight clubs, Scottish clubs performing well in European competition increases the league’s profile, which is good for everyone,” SPFL boss Neil Doncaster said.
Each side in the Premiership last season will each receive £370,000 thanks to Celtic reaching the Group stages of the Champions League last season. That means that St Mirren and Livingston miss out but Patrick Thistle and Ross County are in the money today.
Over at Ibrox, the revenue will come in less than 24 hours after a court awarded a similar amount to Mike Ashley for his legal expenses in the on going fiasco of their merchandise deal. This has caused much anger on the various Rangers forums but it must surely dawn on them at some stage that kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors are going to do the old ‘walking away’ if Rangers are unable to sell the kits to their supporters. We’ll let them rage about that though.
Apparently there is another hearing planned where the damages will be determined – that’s the money that Rangers will have to pay Sports Direct – and there will be no windfall from Celtic to cover that one.
The £370,000 payment from UEFA will not be available next season unfortunately to the Scottish Premiership sides.
Celtic lost to AEK Athens after playing a tough league match at Tynecastle a few days before.
We said this at the time but if Scottish clubs are to progress in Europe, especially beyond the ‘dangerous’ summer months when so many come a cropper, the SPFL should be looking at planned postponements to suit the club in question, whether it be Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, Rangers or any of the others clubs in the league.
If the Scottish representatives can reach the Group stages – and this year UEFA made it even tougher with four rather than three qualifiers, then 11 Scottish clubs will benefit by sharing at least £4million. That’s not sour grapes because Celtic lost at Tynecastle – we could have won there and then lost in Athens and the money would still be lost.
It makes financial sense for the SPFL to help the clubs ahead of European qualifiers – that’s financial sense for the likes of St Mirren and Livingston who got nothing this time around and have missed out for next season because of Celtic’s defeat on Athens.
So Mr Doncaster, there’s your chance to do the best you can to ensure this money comes back to Scottish football by allowing postponements of any premiership match before a European qualifier, if the team asks for it.
Other countries can do it so why not Scotland?
Also on The Celtic Star today…
‘The Celtic Star is shining brightly,’Jim Craig…See HERE.
Celtic short changed by complaining Compper…See HERE.
‘Celtic are a good team. Tierney, McGregor and Edouard are great talents,’ Leipzig boss…See HERE.
‘Records are there to be broken,’ 12th time lucky Rodgers…See HERE.
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