UEFA has ditched its 'safety net' plan for big clubs and reached a fresh agreement with the European Club Association to give two Champions League places to countries whose teams performed best in Europe.
But Scotland have received a boost as their golden slot appears safe as houses for the foreseeable future while the tournament group stage expands from 32 to 36 sides.
The initial plan to give two clubs with the highest ranking that did not qualify for a place in the tournament through their league has been scrapped.
It follows drawn-out talks with the ECA and instead the two extra places will go to the countries that performed best across all three continental competitions.
As an example, those two places next season would have gone to England and the Netherlands. For four of the last five seasons, the fifth-placed Premier League team would have gained a group stage slot under the new conditions.
That's good news for fans of meritocracy in football.
But the part that concerns Scotland is how the other two extra places are dished out with the Independent revealing they are as follows:
- A place will go to the third-place finishers in the country ranked fifth (currently France)
- And there will be another place added to the ‘Champions Path’, with five instead of four.
The changes will take effect from 2024 and it could give Rangers and Celtic an extra safety net when it comes to making the group stage of the competition.
It's also claimed the number of group stage matches will drop to eight from an initial 10, though the new league table format remains.
The ECA were presented with the fresh proposals on Monday and after a key meeting on Tuesday morning a decision has been made.
Scotland's coefficient has improved to the point the two Glasgow clubs are on course to make the group stage of the Champions League next season.
Celtic are set to qualify straight through next season as Premiership winners while Rangers will face non-champions path qualifiers – unless they win the Europa League Final.
Hearts have now been guaranteed group stage European football, at least in the form of the Europa Conference League, and any two of Dundee United, Motherwell and Ross County will enter qualifying for that competition.
