UEFA have today performed a radical overhaul of the Champions League.
European football rulers have confirmed the top four leagues will now have four teams each in the competition as of 2018.
England, Spain, Germany and Italy will now make up 50 per cent of the 32 sides in the group stage.
But in a move that may surprise many UEFA have kept the Champions’ Route that gives the Scottish Premiership winners – currently Celtic – a better chance of making the millionaires’ playground.
With the Europa League winners also guaranteed a group stage, the changes will leave just 15 spots up for grabs in a move that will see the rich get richer. But the retention of Champions and League route of qualifying ensures that clubs from all associations can enter through their domestic leagues and qualify for both competitions.
UEFA – at the behest of the European giants – acted after fearing their tournament was not making enough money.
The Premier League's new £9billion TV deal fuelled the desire of the Continent’s behemoths to demand changes to the event.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was on Thursday night locked in talks with European football’s elite in a desperate bid to save the Champions League’s current format.
But he and the Scottish Premiership were celebrating today after Lawwell helped convince UEFA to keep their lifeline into the multi-million pound elite competition.
Crucially, UEFA have this line in their list of changes: "A new system for the club coefficients: clubs will be judged on their own records (deletion of the country share for individual club coefficient unless that coefficient is lower than 20 per cent of the association's coefficient)."
UEFA General Secretary ad interim Theodore Theodoridis said: "The evolution of UEFA's club competitions is the result of a wide-ranging consultative process involving all stakeholders and taking into account a wide range of expertise and perspectives.
"The amendments made will continue to ensure qualification based on sporting merit, and the right of all associations and their clubs to compete in Europe's elite club competitions.
"We are happy that European football remains united behind the concepts of solidarity, fair competition, fair distribution and good governance."
The Champions League trophy
THE CHANGES
*The UEFA Europa League winners will automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage (currently they can potentially take part in a play-off round).
*The top four clubs from the four top-ranked national associations will now qualify automatically for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
*The full details of the access list for both competitions will be finalised by the end of the year.
*A new system for the club coefficients: clubs will be judged on their own records (deletion of the country share for individual club coefficient unless that coefficient is lower than 20 per cent of the association's coefficient).
*Historical success in the competition will also be acknowledged in coefficient calculation (points for previous European titles with a weighted system for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League titles)
*Financial distribution to clubs will be increased significantly for both competitions.
*A new four-pillar financial distribution system (starting fee, performance in the competition, individual club coefficient and market pool) will see sporting performances better rewarded, while market pool share will decrease.