CELTIC are right to be deeply concerned at the latest body of thought which has emerged from Europe this week.

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s proposals for the Champions League

becoming a 20-team tournament from season 2018-19 and

consisting only of clubs from Germany, Spain, England,

Italy and France would be an absolute disaster for Scottish football.

As we have seen before, it is a case of the richest clubs in the game looking to not only get richer but to preserve the

power and stranglehold they have on European football.

And before anybody is in a rush to point it out, I get the irony that Celtic and the chat that involved their ambitions to

moving to the Premier League or taking part in some sort of Atlantic League would effectively be the same kind of disaster for the rest of the Scottish league.

I honestly cannot imagine that it will happen.

Peter Lawwell sits on the executive board of the European Clubs Association and he will do everything to fight the

corner of Celtic and preserve the status that the club has.

When you consider that

Celtic were the first British club to win the European Cup and when you consider the long association that the club have had with the competition, it would be absurd to think that the door would close on any further involvement.

But although we are all quick to talk about finances and what being involved in the group stage of the modern Uefa Champions League brings, to me that is actually secondary.

The main aspect of being a part of the competition is because of the prestige

involved at that level of the game and what it means to the everyone connected to the club – players, officials, fans.

It was only a few years back that Celtic beat Barcelona at Celtic Park in the competition and nights like that are what make the club.

It was an amazing night as Celtic celebrated its 125th anniversary and the atmosphere in the ground that night was phenomenal – a fact that was not lost on Lionel Messi.

To threaten a scenario where nights like that are simply no longer possible would, before anything else, be desperately sad.

Celtic cannot compete with the top level clubs because of the obvious financial disparities but on a one-off game – as we have seen so often in football – anything can happen. To rob players and fans of that chance would be wrong.

I don’t think it will materialise, but I do think that what we will see is the bigger clubs taking more control in the running of the competition.

It is up to Celtic to use whatever limited power they have to resist as much as they can.

But for the here and now it is vital that they start laying the foundations now for this summer’s assault on the qualifiers for the competition. It is no

exaggeration to say that these are the games which will truly shape the entire season and it is a big part of why it has been such a tough campaign so far for Ronny Deila this term.

The lack of involvement at that level of European football is difficult to get over and although we all go on about the timing of these games, the fact is we know when they are coming and you just need to get on with it.

The remaining months of the season is where you turn one eye to the qualifiers and while there has to be a focus on ensuring the league is won comfortably, I think events this week have shown retaining the Championship will be well within Celtic’s reach.

I am reluctant to be overly critical of Aberdeen because I think they have had a good season, but it does seem to be when the pressure is on and they need to win that they falter.

Had Celtic lost to Ross County last Saturday there would have been one almighty clamour about the result, you can bet your bottom dollar on that.

I didn’t hear too much in the wake of Aberdeen’s defeat to Inverness on Monday night and that tells you about the difference in perception between the two teams.

Celtic need to get on with the business in hand and look towards getting a consistent run of form going.

There are three months of the season still to play and what they need to look to do now is lay the foundations of what they trust will be a side that can take them all the way into the group stages of the Champions League next season.

Given the issues that are surrounding their future involvement in the competition, they need to strive to make the best of the chances that they have just now.

Glasgow Times:

KRISTOFFER AJER checked into Glasgow, for a day or two at least, this week.

I have to be honest, I don’t see a 17-year-old Norwegian as the key to Celtic making the group stages of the Champions League.

Will he make the difference come these massive games in the summer? I am not so sure.

That is not to say that there is not value in bringing him to the club.

Celtic are clearly keen to see what is out there and we all know what the strategy is when it comes to recruitment and the selling-on policy.

But you have to be very careful that you are not closing the door to the first-team on players of a similar ilk. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

The club has invested heavily in the Academy and this season we have seen Kieran Tierney not just given an opportunity but put in the kind of performances which suggest his capabilities of taking it.

The big issue is just how bloated the squad is – especially in midfield.

You have guys like Ryan Christie and Scott Allan who are not getting much game time and then there are also a number out on loan.

Trying to find a bit more balance, especially in the middle of the park, is something I would imagine will be a priority as we head towards the summer and these qualifiers.

THERE has been a fair bit of chat this week on the use of artificial pitches and I have to say that I am not totally against their use.

I have a memory of playing against Rangers in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and it is no exaggeration to say that we were essentially knee deep in mud.

Let’s just say that it was a rather physical game.

In Scotland, the clubs that have opted to introduce artificial surfaces have made the decision down to finances and the ease of maintenance.

I have to say that as technology gets better, the pitches will get better and I don’t think that it is all bad to have them.

I played at Wembley once and it was like running out on to a billiards table.

It was utterly outstanding and when you are playing on grass like that then there is no doubt that is what you would pick every single time.

But we live in Scotland where the climate can be awful. This winter it has rained solidly for almost three months and it can be difficult to maintain pitches under those circumstances.

What you also have to remember is that back in the 1950s there were debates about whether or not we should be using floodlights in games.

Sometimes you have to accept that there are changes which might actually benefit the game and as science and technology moves forward then so will the standard of the surfaces.

Glasgow Times:

THERE has been a fair bit of chat this week on the use of artificial pitches and I have to say that I am not totally against their use.

I have a memory of playing against Rangers in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and it is no exaggeration to say that we were essentially knee deep in mud.

Let’s just say that it was a rather physical game.

In Scotland, the clubs that have opted to introduce artificial surfaces have made the decision down to finances and the ease of maintenance.

I have to say that as technology gets better, the pitches will get better and I don’t think that it is all bad to have them.

I played at Wembley once and it was like running out on to a billiards table.

It was utterly outstanding and when you are playing on grass like that then there is no doubt that is what you would pick every single time.

But we live in Scotland where the climate can be awful. This winter it has rained solidly for almost three months and it can be difficult to maintain pitches under those circumstances.

What you also have to remember is that back in the 1950s there were debates about whether or not we should be using floodlights in games.

Sometimes you have to accept that there are changes which might actually benefit the game and as science and technology moves forward then so will the standard of the surfaces.

Daniel McNee, of Uddingston, writes: Celtic racked up another fine from Uefa yesterday following the release of a flare in their Europa League game against Fenerbahce. What can the club do to eliminate this problem?

The club are doing everything they can to identify people who are using flares and there has to be a realisation that they are badly damaging the reputation of the club.

They are dragging the club’s name through the gutter and there is a real danger that the sanctions could get more severe than a simple financial penalty. It is gross stupidity and if they have a strong affiliation with the club then they will realise the damage they are doing to it.