JUST IN:Philippe Clement received a heartbreaking contract announcement few minutes ago

JUST IN:Philippe Clement received a heartbreaking contract announcement few minutes ago

Dan Plumley admits that Rangers have been left chasing their tail this season after European developments at Ibrox and Celtic.

 

Philippe Clement’s side failed to qualify for the new-look Champions League this season as they were knocked out in the qualifying stage by Dynamo Kyiv.

The Light Blues have to settle for a place in the Europa League and while financial expert Plumley insists that isn’t “the end of the world” he does admit it will be a “significant blow” to them on and off the pitch.

 

“We’ve said this all along with Rangers and Celtic,” Plumley exclusively told Ibrox News.

 

“Champions League football is what is going to define the season both on and off of the pitch in many ways. It gives you that financial power, if you haven’t got that, you’ve got to budget accordingly.

“It is always going to be the swings with Scottish football. Direct entry to the Europa League is not the end of the means and we have seen Rangers have good runs deep into that competition in years gone by.

 

“But even if you go deep into that competition, you’re looking at £20million as a benchmark figure that you can bring in, which is half of what the Champions League will bring you in getting into that big league stage.

“It’s not the end of the world, but it is a significant blow to your financial budgets because if you can get into the Champions League, that’s where the big money is and you can change your plans accordingly.

“That’s heightened in Scottish football by the fact that if Celtic are in there and Rangers aren’t, you’re chasing your tail a bit off of the pitch in the early parts of the season.

 

“Just because of the nature of Champions League finance.”

Will Rangers and Philippe Clement miss out on title to Celtic?

The biggest issue for Rangers is the fact that their failure to qualify for the Champions League again this term means they are now facing a battle to beat Celtic to the title and therefore a place in Europe’s premier competition again.

 

While Clement’s side are stuck in this cycle, it is hard to see how they will be able to break the Hoops’ hold on the Premiership as they are consistently second favourites.