Robbie Neilson fears the Old Firm’s financial clout may always prove too rich for Premiership clubs to rival.
But the Hearts boss is convinced the cash on offer from European football can help clubs eat into the superior budgets of Rangers and Celtic and give them a fighting chance. Neilson side hope that they can deliver a statement performance when they travel to face Celtic on Sunday.
He said: “The divide is there in Scottish football and we need to slowly try and get as close as we can. The season we had last year allows us the chance to get to group stage football and build gradually. Overnight we won’t match that spending power, we’ll probably never match it, but we can maybe consistently get European football and we can maybe get closer and closer, but it takes time.” Neilson has watched a host of arrivals at Celtic this summer but despite the embarrassment of riches at Ange Postecoglou’ s disposal, he believes his Jambos can pull off a shock.
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He said: “Celtic have spent more money and signed a few players. Our job is to go there, try and negate these players and find a way to win.”
Hearts also have a huge Europa League playoff second leg against FC Zurich to contest on Thursday night after a 2-1 defeat in Switzerland.
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