Champions League format scrapped

The current format of the Champions League is set to be scrapped.

The new set up would see the league winner from Scotland gain automatic entry into the group stages with the Cup winner going into a mini knockout phase that would see a further 10 clubs join the 22 teams who already gained automatic entry into the group stage.

The runner up in the league would immediately go into the UEFA Cup group stage.

It is said the SPL are not in favour of this new structure, nor are the Dutch, because they fear that the divide in the domestic league would become too much if one team won the league a couple of years in succession.

The financial rewards of being in the Champions League are such that the winning team would then have so much more money that the other clubs in the league would find it difficult to compete.

I think this will be a great change and put a breath of fresh air into both the domestic league and the Champions League.