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RANGERS and Aberdeen will join forces with Celtic in fighting against the plan to shut Scottish teams out of the Champions League.

SPFL chief Neil Doncaster has already blasted the bid by Europe’s elite to make the competition a closed shop.

Now our three biggest clubs are ready to unite and resist any such changes to the tournament.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson last night told MailSport : “It’s a time to put club rivalries aside and unite against this. I can only speak for Rangers but I’m sure the views of Celtic and Aberdeen – or any other club in Scotland – will be the same. Maybe this will help the

clubs in Scottish football get behind one cause.”

Celtic supremo Peter Lawwell sits on the executive board of the European Clubs Association and at their general assembly in Paris last week he was joined by Robertson and Aberdeen CEO Duncan Fraser.

(Image: SNS Group)

They are deeply concerned about the latest proposals, which were revealed by Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

They involve the Champions League becoming a 20-team tournament from season 2018/19 and consisting only of sides from Germany, Spain, England, Italy and France.

But Robertson wants the SFA and SPFL to fight Scotland’s corner and keep the Champions League’s key principles intact.

He said: “Scottish clubs at least want a chance of being at Europe’s top table. From Rangers’ point of view, we’d certainly resist and lobby strongly against this. They are loose proposals, clearly to try and test the water.

“So we’ll need the SFA and SPFL to lobby quite strongly.

“Basic principles have to apply here. The absolute fundamental is the champions of every European country get a chance to compete.”

Robertson and Dons chief Fraser are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to challenging the Champions League proposals.

A spokesperson for Aberdeen told MailSport last night: “We fully endorse Neil Doncaster’s concerns and

comments regarding potential changes to the Champions League.”

Celtic’s Lawwell, in his role at the ECA, is also determined to fight tooth and nail to protect Scotland’s place in the competition.

And Hoops boss Ronny Deila last night voiced his opposition to the controversial plans.

The Norwegian said: “If you are going to call it the Champions League you need to have the champions in there. It’ll be the five top leagues who have a championship but I thought it was called the Champions League?”

(Image: PA Wire)

Several of the top clubs in Germany, Spain, Italy and France are pushing the proposed changes and are trying to pressurise UEFA on the issue.

They fear that English sides, with a new £3billion TV deal, will be in a league of their own financially.

MailSport understands ECA chair Umberto Gandini from AC Milan is in favour of the changes – after his side failed to qualify for any UEFA competition last season.

But Scottish fans are outraged by plans to make the Champions League an invite-only tournament.

Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, said: “The last thing we want is to head towards a franchise system where only the location and wealth of your club matters.”