Connah’s Quay Nomads and The New Saints are unlikely to compete in the Scottish Challenge Cup, it has been revealed.
Since 2016, Welsh clubs have competed in the competition and in 2019, Connah’s Quay made the final, losing to Ross County.
But now clubs from England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland may miss out on trips to Scotland and potential money-spinning fixtures at home.
After appearing on the BBC Radio Scotland’s Scottish Football Podcast, SPFL chief Neil Doncaster discussed the future of the competition.
When asked whether there will be space for the competition, Doncaster said: “Yes there will be room. We’re hoping to get that competition away, it’s an important part of the calendar.”
However, Doncaster added that is unlikely that ‘international’ teams will take part in the 2020/21 edition of the Challenge Cup.
“I’m not so sure we’ll be expecting international teams to participate in the competition this year.”
Responding to Doncaster’s answer, the presenter claimed some may welcome that news.
“Some will some won’t, there are different views about the international teams and certainly talking to a lot of fans they really enjoyed their trips to far-flung places in Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and England in recent seasons.”
No start date has yet been pencilled in for the Cymru Premier and NIFL Premiership and that could create a dilemma in organising cross-border fixtures.
Vanarama National League sides have a working start date of Saturday, October 3 whilst the League of Ireland and its First Division resumed this weekend.
Normally, Welsh clubs enter in Round Three of the competition with fixtures being played in September.
However with a start date of 17 October 2020 for the Scottish Championship, League One and League Two, there could be a congested fixture list for clubs.
Mr Smith
It was great having Welsh teams in the Scottish Challenge cup, but probably sensible as of covid to put that idea on pause this year,