Celtic chief: Aberdeen, Hibs & Hearts could be Europa League regulars

Impending changes to the Europa League could see Scotland's second-tier clubs become regular participants in the competition, according to Peter Lawwell.

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The Celtic chief executive revealed there are ongoing discussions to re-format the competition for the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

This would come in the form of an expanded second tier competition, whether it’s the Europa League or a similar tournament underneath the Champions League.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell. Picture: John Devlin

This would mean a reduced domestic schedule, but Lawwell reckons the kind of money playing in Europe under such a restructure would be “transformational” in terms of the income it could bring in.

He told BBC Scotland: “We should be getting ready to bring in new money from European participation.

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“Growth in Scottish football will come from looking outside Scotland, and getting more participation of our clubs in Europe.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell. Picture: John Devlin

“For clubs like Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts, it’s very possible they could be regular participants in the Europa League or it’s equivalent in six years.

“There is a thought that we should be expanding the Europa League, that European football takes a bigger chunk of the calendar and your domestic becomes smaller.

“You have to have more games in Europe. We should be looking to export Scottish football to a European competition - that’s where the money and the interest and the competition is.

“Including gate money, sponsorship, the central pool, it could be between 8m and 10m euros for a club like Aberdeen. That is transformational.”