European elimination the tip of the iceberg for Celtic

Celtic’s Champions League exit at the hands of Juventus this week could well be the least of the Scottish champion’s worries.

As a result of the reduction in FIFA coefficient of Scotland as a nation, Celtic will have to enter next season’s Champions League at the first qualifying round after their inevitable 44^th league title.  This will mean the hoops will have to go through three rounds of qualifying matches just to reach the group stages and will have to successfully negotiate 12 matches just to get to the same stage that they managed to reach this season.

With a greater risk of Neil Lennon’s men not reaching the group stages and the reduced television revenue that comes to boot, it will further highlight the shortcomings in revenue brought about by their nearest, fiercest rivals in Glasgow Rangers.  At a time when money in the Scottish game is at a premium, Celtic will further feel the pinch of not having the gate receipts that come hand in hand with at least 4 old firm clashes per season.  These money spinning matches are on hold for at least another two seasons following Rangers demotion to Scottish football’s bottom league.  This period could even be extended with the proposed re-structuring of the league system in Scotland.

In short, Celtic’s elimination from the Champions League was more a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ but things are set to continue to decline from the men from Parkhead as a result of Scottish football being in a long tunnel, with very little light at the end of it.

Aaron SharpFollow @ajs26061988

Comments

[iain]

What absolute garbage , Celtic are much more than likely to make it thru the early rounds . It looks like this article was written by the sevco press team and handed out to compliant hacks . Im surprised their was no mention of how well sevco are doing and how the future for them is bright , blah blah ,
What a pathetic article written by a fool.

[EKTIM67]

Nothing in this article - Celtic were never going to win the UCL but last 16 was fantastic performance. Incidentally, Rangers, weren't demoted, they went OUT of business. The SFA tore up the rule book to give Sevco - a brand new club - a licence when Sevco didn't meet SFA criteria. Figure that! One set of rules for Sevco/Rangers, different rules for everybody else!

[Barry]

I've read a lot of drivel since Wednesday but this must be the worst. The sheer ignorance of Celtic's whole situation right now is truly breathtaking. Anyone with half a brain would know that Celtic will be favourites to make it through all 3 qualifiers next season. Which is not to say they are certainties to make it to the groups of course, but it is fair to say they have a better than even chance.

[Eddie]

LOL ... Have you read Celtics latest accounts results? Clearly not. The Rangers financial impact has been totally disproved and is of far less importance and financial impact than is being touted in the media.
As far as Champions League qualification is concerned, (assuming Celtic win the league) Celtic will go via the Champions route in the qualifiers which will result in them being seeded against the champions of other "lower"leagues eg, Sweden, Finland Hungary etc. They will not come up against German Spanish clubs etc.
This was Platinis new system to give Champions a clear route to the CL without coming up against the wealthy non champions of England etc.
Maybe a follow up article with the facts would be beneficial and give you something to research.

[Tom]

Absolute drivel. Celtic as a club have operated in the real world for a long time, with no allusions as to the financial realities they face today and in the future. That explains the club's strong financial position and our ability to avoid wreckless spending as a reslt of which our legacy will not be an interesting footnote in accountancy textbooks. The impact of Glasgow Rangers demise is over egged, but regardless we have to accept they are gone, they are not coming back. One day The Rangers FC may make it to the SPL, though the authoring anarok may wish to reflect that the proposed league restructuring will not increase the time it takes them to get there.

[Every Penny's A Prisoner]

"Celtic will further feel the pinch of not having the gate receipts that come hand in hand with at least 4 old firm clashes per season".

Home team keeps the gate money.

[Jesus Wept]

When you hear that someone is a football anorak the least you would expect from him is to be heavy on the side of facts and stats.

You sir, are a fool.

[Mick]

Good god man, do some research before writing your drivel. The ignorance of some of you so called writers is staggering. Celtic have 43,000 season ticket holders, and have taken in £50 mil in the first six months of the season with the revenue from the CL still to come. With the route they are to take next year (champions route) it will if anything be easier than this season to get to the stages. I can only presume you are an Englishman, or a sevco lover to come out with this drivel. And just to make it clear the club once known as rangers imploded and liquidated, they were never demoted.

[Aitcho]

Aaron Sharp? Obviously not too Sharp Aaron ,lol

[bobo]

What a wee bitter sad jealous blog. There's other ways to get attention than to post nonsense about Glasgows only premier club. In a nutshell ya wee sleekit zombie, Celtic are debt free and will probably rake I'm about £20 million this summer from the sale of three players so no need to worry about us sweetheart. x x