Why Rangers hierarchy will be sweating as UEFA news emerges that could also affect Celtic

Rangers’ disappointing European campaign has already come to an early end, but the consequences of their qualification failure could extend beyond this season.

The Ibrox side entered the Europa League at the third qualifying round, only to suffer an early exit against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.

That defeat dropped Derek McInnes’ team into the Conference League play-off round, where they were unable to recover.

Rangers drew 1-1 on aggregate with Jablonec before losing the decisive penalty shootout, bringing their hopes of European football to an abrupt conclusion.

Attention must now turn towards domestic matters, but a UEFA rule change could make qualification for the Europa League more complicated for Scottish clubs next season.

UEFA change could create problems for Rangers

There is no question that Rangers’ European campaign fell well below expectations. Exiting both competitions before reaching a league phase represents a significant disappointment for a club with European ambitions.

McInnes will therefore know that delivering success domestically is particularly important this season.

However, the Rangers hierarchy will also be keeping a close eye on how UEFA’s new qualification structure could affect their prospects next summer.

BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson has outlined changes to the Europa League qualifying process that will come into effect next season.

Under the revised system, the final qualifying round will be divided into separate champions and non-champions routes.

For Scottish clubs, that could have significant implications. The Scottish Cup winners and the Premiership runners-up would enter the non-champions route.

Scotland’s declining coefficient ranking could make the situation even more difficult. Johnson explained that, hypothetically, Rangers or Celtic could find themselves unseeded if they entered the non-champions section.

The same potential problem would apply to any Scottish club occupying that route.

There are, however, some positives within the new system.

A club eliminated in the final Europa League qualifying round would be guaranteed a place in the Conference League league phase. In addition, Rangers would receive seeded status in the Europa League play-off round if they won the Premiership but subsequently failed to negotiate Champions League qualifying.

That could provide an important safety net.

Rangers can avoid the problem themselves

The UEFA changes will undoubtedly give the Rangers hierarchy something to consider, but there is a straightforward way for the club to reduce the uncertainty.

Win the Scottish Premiership.

If Rangers regain the title, they would put themselves in a stronger position when the next European campaign begins and give themselves a better opportunity to reach the Champions League.

The current qualification rules are only a major concern because Rangers have put themselves in a position where they could potentially enter the more difficult non-champions route.

For a club of Rangers’ stature, winning the domestic title should be the overriding objective.

McInnes has already seen how costly a failed European campaign can be, and the club cannot afford another season without major success.

The message for the Rangers hierarchy and squad is therefore simple: rather than worrying about how the qualification system might affect them next summer, they need to make sure their league position gives them the strongest possible route into Europe.

For Rangers, that means putting the Premiership title firmly at the top of the agenda.