New Challenge Cup Format

http://stv.tv/sport/football/1356801-northern-irish-and-welsh-sides-to-join-top-flight-u20s-in-challenge-cup/

Premiership u20's entering in the first round, and teams from leagues outside of Scotland entering it (NI & Wales) in the last round.

28 teams will enter in the first round: 12 Premiership U20s, teams placed 3-10 in League Two as well as 4 Highland League and 4 Lowland League teams. First round games will take place on August 2 and 3.
•Second round: 14 winners from round one, teams placed 1 and 2 in League Two and teams placed 3-10 in League One
•Third round: 12 winners from round two, 10 Championship clubs, teams 1 and 2 in League One
•Fourth round: 12 winners from round three, 2 teams from Northern Ireland, 2 teams from Wales. Draw will be regionalised to keep Northern Irish and Welsh teams apart.

Absolute cluster fuck of an idea,this is Scotland's lower league cup competition why is their teams in there from NI and Wales,also bringing in U20's from prem team's,is this a backdoor job on our lower leagues,bringing them into our leagues would be a disaster. It all smells like Old Firm interference to me!!!

Yeah very fishy this U20's pish. Wouldn't surprise me if it is some sneaky way for them to have a Sevco & Celtic team in the SPFL lower leagues and then push for their first team moving down South again.

Apparently the FL down south are interested in the Old Scum; the question is are the bigot brothers interested in having to rise through the ranks?

I'd be glad to see the back of them.

Sevco have just done it in the SPFL, wouldn't think they'd mind doing it again if they got the chance of playing in England. Far more money for them in the lower leagues down there than there was in the SPFL lower league and once they got to the Championship there'd be more money then the SPFL Premiership too.

Only miss would be plating in Europe as they're pretty much guaranteed that in Scotland, although it would be worth the sacrifice for their goal of Premiership football down south.

We wouldn't be rid of them though as I suspect they'd have an U20's* team in the SPFL and they'd be allowed promotion to the Premiership.

*Which would then end up being a 2nd team come feeder team to blood talent for the 1st team down south.