Rangers have confirmed they are "still working through" the financial impact that missing out on European football will have at the club. The penalty shoot-out defeat to Jablonec in the Conference League playoff brought the club's bid for European success to a humiliating end.
It followed a shock Europa League exit at the hands of Jagiellonia Bialystok - with both playoff losses dealing an early blow to Derek McInnes' momentum after stepping into the Ibrox hot seat. Since then, the Rangers boss has steadied the ship and has ramped the pressure up on Celtic with a League Cup and Premiership win over their rivals.
Club faces fans over European disappointment
Despite improving domestically - with the Light Blues sitting two points off the table-topping Hoops - the club have fronted up to the European disappointment at a meeting with the club's Fan Advisory board. The minutes note that chief executive Jim Gillespie "was candid about the European performances, that they had fallen short of what the squad was capable of."
He noted: "Since then, the team has settled into a more consistent shape and performances have improved, culminating in the win at the weekend [over Celtic]."
Finance director confirms lost income
Finance director Sara Bishop also "confirmed that the financial impact of the European exit is still being worked through" and conceded "the club has lost income as a result". However, it is said "this is not expected to alter the plans already in place."
The most recent data released by UEFA regarding financial payouts shows the figure that Rangers look likely to miss out on this season after their push for the Europa League flopped. Despite a top eight finish in the league phase during the 2024/25 campaign and run to the quarter-final stage, the Light Blues banked just over £18million.
Qualification earnings and squad overhaul
Qualification for the Europa League earned the club around £4.1million with performances and the league ranking earning the Ibrox chiefs around £2million. The value pillar added another £6.1million to the pot.
The launch of the McInnes era saw a major overhaul with 14 players joining and 19 leaving last summer - with Clinton Nsiala also subsequently leaving the club. Gillespie noted the long-term vision of the club in the market during the meeting, explaining: "The club is building a squad capable of winning with a balance of experience and younger players who have the potential to develop and grow in value."
He added that he expects "the main business is planned to be done in the summer window, with January reserved for adjustments. The strategy is intended to run across several windows and to build a squad that can grow and mature together."
