Simon Jordan reckons Rangers are a "reputational powerhouse" even if their finances can't compete with the likes of Manchester City and PSG. And the talkSPORT pundit insists Scottish clubs may need more help for UEFA if they want to keep playing in the Champions League.
Gio van Bronckhorst's team made waves with their run to the Europa League Final last season and built on their Euro progress with a comeback win over Union SG to set up a crunch playoff with PSV Eindhoven. If they can beat the Dutch side over two legs, they'll qualify for the Champions League proper for the first time since 2010/11.
Not since 2007/08 have two Scottish teams made the group stage at the same time but an improved coefficient standing means it's now a distinct possibility, and could be for the years to come. And former Crystal Palace owner Jordan insisted on talkSPORT that only one Scottish team qualifying directly for the Champions League is holding the likes of Rangers and Celtic back.
With Hearts already guaranteed group stage football in either the Europa League or Conference League and Dundee United leading ahead of their second leg with AZ Alkmaar, there is a possibility that four Scottish teams could be playing group stage European football this season.
Jordan said: “When you’ve got clubs who are doing £500million-a-year turnover, a la Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG, and you’ve got a club in Scotland doing £70million turnover, which is Rangers, then you’re not an economic powerhouse.
“You’re a reputational powerhouse, and you’ve got a global support-base, but that isn’t going to push you across the line to compete with these clubs. Where also it’s not fair in helping the Scottish teams continue to develop is the qualification criteria that only one team in Scotland gets to play in the Champions League.
"I know the leagues are smaller but there is an argument that there should be two teams coming from Scotland. If you want Scottish football to keep kicking on… move beyond the piddly-pop domestic finances they’ve got, they need some help. And that means playing in Europe. And that means also a trickle-down effect for the European money benefiting the rest of the league as well.”
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