Martin O'Neill reckons Rangers NEED Champions League cash to keep up with Celtic as he doubts financial 'wherewithal'

Celtic managerial legend Martin O’Neill insists it would be great for Scottish football if Rangers joined his old club in the Champions League group stage - and reckons the Ibrox side might NEED it to keep pace with their rivals.

The Light Blues earned a 2-2 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their playoff tie and now face a do-or-die trip to Holland in the return. O’Neill estimates that joining the cream of the continent could be worth around £30million and with Celtic already guaranteed that after automatic qualification from winning the Scottish Premiership, the Irishman believes there is pressure on Rangers to get there as well.

O’Neill told talkSPORT: “Where Scottish football is concerned and for Celtic to stay strong, I always think you need a really strong Rangers so qualification for the Champions League will be so important to them because financially I’m not so sure they have the wherewithal unless they make it through to the group stage. So for Scottish football it would be great for Rangers to join Celtic in the group stage and make some inroads in the competition.

“They were excellent against PSV Eindhoven and that game was in the balance. Rangers have had to fight to back having lost the opening game against Kilmarnock in the league so they’ve had their battles and did very well, by all accounts, against PSV Eindhoven. Celtic got knocked out of the League Cup by Kilmarnock so that would be a blow at this minute to them and the game against Rangers (at Ibrox on September 3) will be very important.”

O’Neill watched another of his old clubs Aston Villa thrash Hibs at Easter Road in the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie but admits it’s hard for clubs outside of the Old Firm. He