GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
After an extraordinary run under Philippe Clement, the Bears have finally taken the top spot in the Scottish Premiership, with an automatic Champions League qualification up for grabs. Dan Plumley has stated that there is pressure on and off the pitch for both Rangers and Celtic.
The football financial specialist acknowledged that the Rangers team and boardroom are under a lot of pressure to maintain this momentum and win the championship.
He exclusively told Ibrox News, “That pressure at the very top of Scotland is going to be the Rangers and Celtic scenario.”
“I believe that now that it’s guaranteed a Champions League group stage spot—something it hasn’t always meant—the financial strain of that is increased.
“As we’ve repeatedly stated, when you look at Scottish football and the top two in the Scottish Premiership, you look at discussions about the Champions League as the next step, and that has implications for those clubs’ revenue and budget going forward into the following year.
There will always be pressure because Rangers and Celtic are currently facing greater financial difficulties.
“That is a sizable financial windfall, so there will undoubtedly be pressure associated with that as well. Those clubs will be budgeting for either scenario as well, so the pressure extends beyond the pitch and into the boardroom. It is enormous.”
John Bennett under huge Rangers pressure at Ibrox
Champions League football may have a significant impact on any club, not just those in Scotland, but it has a greater influence now because the TV agreement and other earnings are significantly smaller.
Getting first place would be crucial for Rangers to avoid having to reallocate funds after they were forced to do so after failing to go past the knockout stages last summer.
