Expert shares how Scottish football should 'change its model' amid Champions League news
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‘It’s not working’: Keith Wyness reveals the ‘radical’ change Celtic and Rangers must accept Sat 28 February 2026 8:15, UK The Scottish Premiership should become a league full of young talent after clubs suffered a blow in qualifying for European competition next season.That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states that the Scottish game needs to reinvent itself to attract greater broadcast deals.Scotland dropped to 18th in UEFA’s country coefficient rankings, meaning only one club, currently Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, will have the chance to make the Champions League league phase next season.Celtic and Rangers, who have often participated in European competition every year, will now have to navigate qualifying rounds to reach the league phase, whilst fourth place in the Scottish Premiership will no longer get any opportunity to participate in Europe.Scottish football needs to ‘reassess itself’ after European blowAberdeen’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 the Scottish Premiership should become a “showpiece league for young talent.”Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the current model is not working for Scotland. Realising you’ve got the Premier League, next door to you in England.“Scotland, the SPL, I think, should be looking at becoming a different type of league now and becoming a youth showcase and trying to keep players under 24.
And I think it’s an important area that Scotland could become that showpiece league for young talent, and they could afford to get that young talent and be a breakthrough league where people would come, scouts would come, etc. “And young talent would be seen and that’s what it would become, it would be that sort of league that could be the best of its type for that sort of young talent.
It’s got to change its way somehow because right now it’s not working as it is.”“I’ve always been one to try and advocate for change. Perhaps there could be a way to bring across young South American talent, young European talent, and make it a great league that way with a mix of older, experienced players as well.