[HerefordBull]

I know the implications of spending dough you ain't got,trust me I'd rather have a club doing decent than one chucking money about to win a cup now and then.

Aye Fred.....things will be interesting at Hibs next season, as I'm sure we have pushed more than the boat out this year to support promotion.......fine if we get it, but if not......   ......another year in the second tier, this time without Rangers or Hearts to help income.....doesn't bear thinking about  .....lets hope the fan ownership / shares schemes don't stall.

[0762]

I totally agree Fredster and I've previously said in another thread that Hibs current policy is a good one - trying to pull in their fans' financial backing to have a 'bigger slice of the cake' when it comes to owning the club and running it. This move will be a gradual process of 'collective takeover' but it will be achieved eventually.

[TheWorthinGer]

I get that. But i'd rather have the league cup meaning something. A europa place for the winner might make it more interesting and get some more people going to watch.

If our clubs could actually play well enough in Europe to earn us enough places to give the league runners-up, possible 3rd place and both cups a shot in the Europa league I'm sure it would have one.

Not so long ago we had two CL spots and 3 or four UEFA/Europa spots.  What is it now? ! CL early exit and two Europa's to match?

[Fredstersafool]

Decent point Worthless but winning a national trophy should earn you the right at a shot,What didn't help was runners up in the Scottish getting a tilt at Europe i.e Gretna QOS etc it's hard enough with what we have representing Scotland without clubs with next to no hope of getting through a round,respectfully of course

[hibeejim21]

We should just give up on european football then. Why bother putting our best teams forward ?

[Fredstersafool]

It might get taken away from us anyway Jim if bayern and co get there way

[TheWorthinGer]

We should just give up on european football then. Why bother putting our best teams forward ?

If you want to guarantee your "best" teams entry then neither of the cups should have a Europa league place.

Not one of our clubs get a direct entry to the group stages of either competition - qualifying only.  It's a dire situation.

[Fredstersafool]

It's a ridiculous situation worth and all aimed at making the big boys bigger and drowning the rest

[0762]

We should just give up on european football then. Why bother putting our best teams forward ?

Atlantic League resurrection then hibeejim?   But didn't Celtic and Rangers want to be the only possible Scottish footie club participants at the time it was being mooted. Of course Rangers were 'in a different place/situation' at that time eh. 

[St Charles Owl]

It's a ridiculous situation worth and all aimed at making the big boys bigger and drowning the rest

Yes, thats very true of the champions league, its geared towards the bigger teams making it to the latter rounds.  But it wasn't that long ago that Celtic and Rangers (and Aberdeen and Dundee Utd a bit further back) were at least somewhat a force in Europe, certainly both were draws a lot of teams would not have wanted too early on in the competition!!  The coefficient points awarded for the CL are the same as the Europa League, from a national perspective both are as important to rack up points, therefore I side with Worthinger in that rather than giving up a spot for the LC winners, it should go to the potentially better teams who finish well in the league.  I also think if the winners qualify for Europe through their league place then it should not go to the runners up but should be given to the next best placed in the league.  The state of Scottish clubs in European football is a league wide issue, the countries overtaking you currently are no way as good as you used to be and that needs to be addressed.