A new format for the Scottish League Cup this season which it is hoped will satisfy, in some part, the desire for competitive summer football north of the border.
Friday’s draw saw 40 clubs, including all of the top-flight teams who are not in European competition in 2016/17 in addition to Highland League champions Cove Rangers and East Stirling, newly-relegated to the Lowland League, put into eight groups of five.
Each club will play two home and two away matches in their group with matchdays (subject to television coverage) scheduled for 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30 July.
Drawn matches will go straight to a penalty shoot-out with the winner of the spot-kicks gaining a bonus point.
"Fans, the media and clubs alike have expressed a desire for competitive summer football which will be delivered from next July while the ground-breaking bonus point system should add incentive to teams and excitement for supporters," said SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
With an early start to the season and a regional draw throwing up some local derbies, there should be some scope for clubs to be imaginative with their pricing for home matches so keep an eye on your local team to see what they are doing.
Hopefully clubs will embrace the format and offer some good reductions on their usual ticket prices and fans will turn up in good numbers for something more competitive than a pre-season friendly. Well worth a try I feel.
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