Walter Smith has urged league bosses to do all they can to help Rangers enjoy a successful Europa League campaign - and boost Scottish football's ailing coefficient.
The Scottish champions faced a crippling fixture list en-route to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 and, as they prepare to face Sporting Lisbon in the last 32 of the Europa League, Smith is hoping to avoid a repeat of that scenario this time around.
He told the Scottish Daily Mail: "Everybody is starting to explain how important the coefficient is. The thing is, when we were in this situation a couple of years ago, there was no dispensation given to us. It only becomes important when Scottish football feels it becomes important."
He added: "It does get to the situation where, if you are successful in Europe, then it becomes a major problem. I would hope that, if it does become that way, then we would get some help.
"If they (league officials) are going to start the season early in order to help teams in Europe, they should really help us as much as they possibly can."
Source: PA
