ESPN Soccer

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS, Aug 24 - Small clubs like Millwall, Gretna and St. Pauli could find themselves just two wins away from the lucrative group stage of the Champions League under new plans to be discussed by UEFA next week.

Domestic cup winners across Europe are set to be awarded Champions League qualifying berths as part of a proposed shake-up of the prestigious competition worth millions of euros in revenue.

Under the proposals, expected to be endorsed during the first meeting of UEFA's new Professional Football Strategy Council next Thursday, 16 cup winners will enter a separate qualifying competition to run parallel to the regular qualifiers for the group stage.

"Following two knockout rounds, the four surviving teams will then be given automatic spots among the final 32 teams which make up the final Champions League group stage," a senior UEFA source told Reuters.

"Twelve teams will still qualify from the normal qualification rounds through their league positions."

Cup giant killers such as Millwall in England, Scotland's Gretna or German side St Pauli, who have reached the finals of their national cup competitions recently, could qualify alongside the likes of AC Milan and Real Madrid.

However, only the actual winners of the domestic FA Cup would qualify for the cup winners' qualifying rounds.

If the Cup winner had already qualified through their league position the available Champions League qualifying spot would revert to the next-placed team in the league.

The 16 teams will be entered for the competition based on UEFA's ranking system.

PLATINI GOAL

On his election in January, UEFA president Michel Platini said he wanted to reduce the numbers of berths for the bigger countries and increase the chances of other clubs across Europe to qualify for the elite competition.

The former French international said he would like to see the likes of England, Spain and Italy with only three clubs in the money-spinning competition. They now have up to four places.

Under the new system, these three countries would transfer their fourth league place to their cup winners.

"This approach is more balanced. It is not a radical revolution, but more of a mediocre reform which breathes fresh air into the competition," another senior UEFA source said.

"This gives 12 extra Champions League spots to smaller nations which have a pedigree such as Sweden, the Czech Republic etc., and at the same time opens the door for lesser teams in the bigger countries which are dominated by a few clubs."

Thursday's meeting will be the first real test for the ground-breaking committee, comprised of representatives from the national associations, leagues, clubs and players.

It was set up by Platini in a bid to give all sides a greater say in the running of the game. He also intends to incorporate fans into the council in the future. (Additional reporting by Mike Collett in London)

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index