Rangers and Celtic hit by 'complete disaster' - this is very bad long term
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Getty Images)
Alex Oakhill
Sun 7 September 2025 17:05, UK
Celtic and Rangers will struggle to qualify for the Champions League in the future after their embarrassing performances in the competition this season.
Both sides failed to make the group phase of the competition and will drop down into the Europa League as a result.
Rangers were demolished by Club Brugge in the final play-off round, falling to a 9-1 aggregate defeat.
As for Celtic, they were beaten by Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty on penalties, after both legs of the tie finished 0-0.
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the exits are a complete disaster for Scottish football.
Credit: Imago
This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen CEO.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness revealed that the early Champions League exits of Celtic and Rangers mean that Scottish clubs will have to go through extra qualifying rounds in future seasons, due to their reduced European coefficient.
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Despite winning the SPL last term, the Hoops were forced to compete in a play-off, and in upcoming campaigns, the title holders may now have an increased number of preliminary rounds before the main phase.
Wyness added that all Scottish clubs are going to lose £600,000 in solidarity money as well.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s a complete disaster for Scottish football.
It’s just a disaster for Scottish football in every way.
It’s just a shame.
“The one bright spark that I’m trying to look at is that Rangers and Celtic may get better competition this year, and the league may start to grow stronger in terms of better competition and become more of a spectacle at weekends.
It’s a big, big disaster for Scottish football in terms of the way that Europe has panned out this and it started so well with Hibs and Dundee United trying to give it a go.
“I’m afraid it’s very bad, but it’s bad long term, not just this season in terms of the coefficient, as I say.
So big, big problem for Scottish football there.”
Credit: Imago
Meanwhile, Rangers were joined by Championship outfits Sheffield United and Coventry City in their deadline day efforts to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, sources have told Football Insider.
The 22-year-old was linked with a move away from Palace in the latter stages of the window, but ended up staying at Selhurst Park.
Russell Martin’s side remain keen on Rak-Sakyi and could look to reignite their interest in the January transfer window, but will not be alone in their pursuit.
Football Insider revealed on 5 September that Crystal Palace will entertain offers for Rak-Sakyi in the mid-season window despite turning down summer bids.
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