When John Beaton blew his whistle at Ibrox on Saturday he signalled the start of arguably the most important Scottish Premiershipseasons in 12 years.
For that was the last campaign when the title winners were guaranteed Champions League group stage football.
It’s a huge incentive given the financial reward of taking your place at the top table of UEFA’s cash-rich top competition.
And it’s thanks to the progress made on the continent, with Rangersreaching the last-16 of last season’s Europa League helping Scotland edge a close battle with Ukraine for that spot.
Two seasons with the same golden ticket at the end, both 12 years apart. Yet there are many parallels between the two campaigns.
For a start Rangers, as they are this season, have a settled squad and are favourites to lift the league title.
Back then it was Walter Smithwho had just won his first league title since returning to the club for a second spell in charge.
And this time it’s Steven Gerrardwho ended a decade-long wait for the league flag to return to Ibrox with his first title.
Across the city a change had been made to try to win the trophy back. While it’s Ange Postecoglouthis summer, it was Tony Mowbray then.
Both faltered in their quest to reach the group stage of the Champions League as Mowbray’s side went down to Arsenal after a win over Moscow Dynamo.
Postecoglou failed at the first hurdle having gone out to Midtjylland which meant they didn’t even get a crack at PSV Eindhoven.
That Euro pain can be cured by winning the league through when an automatic Champions League spot is up for grabs.
Mowbray, however, failed spectacularly as he was sacked with Rangers disappearing into the distance. It remains to be seen how Postecoglou will fare but he’s trailing by three points after one game following defeat to Hearts in their opener.
And the pressure to get the Hoops in shape quickly is greater than ever with that Champions League incentive.
Postecoglou might say “I'm not an accountant mate, I'm a football manager” when asked about the importance of the financial rewards.
But it’s crucial. Mowbray was a month short of the sack when the cost of missing out was laid bare then chairman John Reid.
In announcing the club’s financial results, Reid admitted: “Not playing in the Champions League obviously results in a significant fall in income and we have taken a hit there.”
When your rivals reach European football’s Promised Land then, in a league where effectively only two teams can finish top, it’s a double whammy.
And with Rangers still in with a chance of reaching this season’s Champions League group stage as they face Malmo and then either Olympiacos or Ludogorets then Celtic are staring at a double double whammy.
Seeing their rivals qualify for the group stage this season and then win the league to secure automatic qualification next season could see the Ibrox side rake in up to £80MILLION.
That is changed days from when the clubs were, literally, leagues apart as Rangers climbed through the lower divisions and Celtic had a free shot at the Champions League.
They qualified for the group stage in successive seasons under Brendan Rodgers but have missed out for a fourth year on the trot.
Now it is Rangers who have the opportunity to coin it in and unlike the last time they won the league to secure automatic qualification when the cash simply delayed an inevitable financial collapse, it can be used to help them strengthen further.
