Euro success a bonus for Celtic

Celtic are struggling to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League

Club director Brian McBride says failure to reach the last 16 of the Champions League would not affect Celtic financially.

Celtic have one point from three games and lie six behind Group E pacesetters Manchester United and Villarreal.

"Our business plan for this year assumed that we didn't get beyond (the group stage)," McBride said.

"It doesn't affect the financials, but it clearly affects the fans and, for that reason, we do want to be there."

Gordon Strachan's side lost 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday to leave themselves with a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for the knock-out stage of Europe's premier tournament for the third season in a row.

Celtic face holders United again in two weeks time in Glasgow, followed by a trip to Denmark to play Aalborg, finishing off with Villarreal at home.

But McBride told BBC Radio Scotland: "It (Tuesday's result) was disappointing, but we always plan it quite conservatively.

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"And, hopefully, if we don't get to the last 16, we'll go into the Uefa (Cup).

"You saw the (financial) results last week, strong results, and we've managed to pay quite a lot of the debt off."