There are doubts over the Europa League participation of Sevco this morning due to updates on UEFA’s participation list.
Over 400 clubs are listed with their co-efficient value for next season with no sign of one from Ibrox.
At first glance the fact that Sevco have never appeared in any UEFA competition would appear to explain that but there are screen-grabs from earlier this month showing a club called Rangers in place number 267.
@kemp1888 That was 4th May updated list 11th May they are there pic.twitter.com/ADEwcOPPku
— rosie (@cocktailnowpls) May 13, 2017
While on the park Pedro Caixinha’s side have merited a place in the Europa League first round qualifier the club clearly fall short on a number of licensing matters.
Having a going concern warning on their last audited accounts (to 30 June 2016) is the obvious failing alongside three years debt of more than 5m euros.
The purpose of the licence is two fold- to safeguard the club from putting their future in doubt by reckless spending and to provide a level playing field for domestic and continental opponents.
In Scotland Hearts or Partick Thistle look like missing out on a Europa League place due to looking after their finances. If either club had spent an extra £10m over the last three years they could have finished in the top four but the directors prefer to know that they’ll still have a club next season.
Whichever club is drawn against Sevco will go into the tie with the handicap of matching up their expenditure with their outgoings, keeping up with tax payments and maintaining a safe stadium ahead of buying players.
So far no one from Hearts or Partick Thistle have made a public comment on the licence issue.
CLICK HERE for the current UEFA co-efficient list.