Former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness raised concerns about the declining Scottish coefficient, emphasizing that it is a significant issue for Celtic and Rangers that can only be rectified on the field. In a recent interview on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the experienced 66-year-old, who has held top positions at Everton and Aston Villa, stressed that poor performances from the Old Firm clubs and Hearts in European competitions will ultimately have a negative impact on Scottish football.
The drop in the Scottish coefficient outside of Europe’s top 15 carries consequences, such as the loss of automatic placement in the Champions League for the Scottish Premiership champions in the 2025-26 season. Despite Celtic’s direct qualification to the league phase this season and their impressive victory against Slovan Bratislava, Rangers’ failure to qualify for the Champions League and Hearts’ participation in the Uefa Conference League highlight the current challenges for Scottish clubs on the European stage.
Wyness highlighted the importance of the coefficient for the Scottish clubs, emphasizing the need for strong performances in European competitions to maintain the country’s position and attract potential investors. He expressed concerns about the impact of the coefficient on the overall health of Scottish football, urging Celtic, Rangers, and the entire Scottish football community to address this issue with urgency.
