The gulf between the haves and the have-nots has grown bigger than ever in recent years which has made the job of Scottish clubs competing at the highest level in European football more difficult than ever.
Celtic have discovered that to their cost after failing to get out of the Champions League group stage since Neil Lennon managed to achieve that feat more than a decade ago.
But a revamped premier tournament has brought new hope - not to mention the Parkhead board splashing out to back boss Brendan Rodgers after the Irishman's return to the Hoops hot-set with making an impact on the continent after the very top of his priorities.
But while spending a club record £11million on midfielder Arne Engels - not to mention £9.5m - might show the kind of ambition supporters have craved, it remains chicken feed to the real superpowers of European football.