DAVE KING has urged Celtic to embark on a summer of reinvestment to boost Scottish football’s standing on the continent and help raise the co-efficient as Rangers prepare for a crack at the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard has ended Celtic’s period of domestic dominance by clinching Rangers’ first league title in a decade this term and the Old Firm power balance has now shifted as Celtic enter a new era on and off the park ahead of next season.
The wait to secure a 55th league flag has been a long and difficult one for Rangers but former chairman King believes their achievement can be a line in the sand moment for the club and the supporters.
King said: “Winning the title this year should finally put to an end this desire to look back.
READ MORE: Stuart McCall reflects on Walter Smith's message, Ibrox morale and the journey to title 55
“It's been right that we looked back at times as the club wasn't where it needed to be.
“I was going to supporters when times were tough and saying, 'Please understand this might be more difficult'.
“I was always appealing to them based on a difficult history. But because we have won the league so emphatically I think we now have a playing squad that has an asset value.
READ MORE: Who have been Steven Gerrard's five key men in title triumph?
“Previously when I was looking at bringing in a new manager who might want to bring in a new style, we didn't have any assets that we could extract value from.
“We were always on the wrong end of the cash flow when we were trading in the market place. So I feel from the club's point of view that we are strong enough financially and enough value in the asset base that Steven can continue to improve his squad while also selling players – but hopefully in a way that the net value of the squad is improved.”
🎥 REACTION: Gary McAllister on the club's 55th league title.#Champion55 pic.twitter.com/1sVkVnGfby
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 7, 2021
The appointment of Gerrard as manager in 2018 has been the catalyst for Rangers but it has taken until his third season for him to finally land the Premiership title.
Celtic have won four successive Trebles in an unprecedented period of success but they have significantly under-achieved on the continent as Rangers have led the way and boosted the co-efficient rating under Gerrard’s guidance.
King said: “Celtic for a long time have been in a position of comfort where they felt they didn't feel the need to invest in their squad.
“But I felt that was detrimental to Scottish football. We saw it where Celtic were winning trophy after trophy in Scotland but then competing very poorly in Europe.
READ MORE: Season by season as Steven Gerrard's side win title 55 and first league flag in a decade
“I'd like to think that Rangers, however, will now kick on and that this will be the beginning of a further level of improvement where we'll do better in Europe.
🎥 REACTION: Michael Beale on the club's 55th league title.#Champion55 pic.twitter.com/l4FMVALU5e
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 7, 2021
“I'm hoping Celtic will also kick on. I'd like to see Celtic re-invest in the interests of Scottish football because we really need to see that co-efficient get up.
“We need a situation where Rangers and Celtic start to do better. We're not far away from automatic qualification for the Champions League and that is so important to Scottish football, not just Rangers and Celtic.”
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