Highland League clubs will not be invited to compete in Scottish Challenge Cup next season according to source as competition is set to undergo new format - Highland League officials aware it is unlikely they will be invited to compete in the tournament
HIGHLAND League clubs look set to miss out on a place in next season’s Challenge Cup as the competition is set to be played under a new format.
It is believed no clubs in the Highland League or Lowland League will be invited to take part in the 2025/26 competition which will be redesigned into a league phase format. However, the new set-up will include Premiership B teams.
But is also believed there remains an intention to issue at least one invitation to the Highland League champions to the Premier Sports Cup this summer.
This season, five Highland League teams, Banks o’Dee, Brechin City, Buckie Thistle, Formartine United and Fraserburgh were invited to take part in the Challenge Cup after finishing in the top five in the Highland League last season.
Six Lowland League teams Albion Rovers, Bo’Ness United, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath, East Kilbride and East Stirlingshire along with 11 Premiership B teams also took part along with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two.
A Hampden source told the Inverness Courier that there are no plans for any guest clubs to be invited into the Challenge Cup this summer, due to the new league phase format, but this may be subject to change.
The SPFL declined to comment when approached by the Inverness Courier on Tuesday.
Highland League secretary John Campbell said while they have not received any official confirmation, they have been told it is unlikely any Highland League clubs will be invited to take part in the competition next season.
He said: “We have been informed that the Challenge Cup will be undertaking a new format for next season.
“We were told it was unlikely there will be an invitation to Highland League or Lowland League clubs.
“That is much as we know, the change of format means there is no longer space for the invites we received previously.
“When we were informed, they made it clear plans have not be formalised, but it is unlikely we will receive any places.
“It is disappointing, but the Highland League were well aware that we were in the competition by invitation and were happy to accept places and were grateful for it.
“But we accept the SPFL are changing the format of the competition which means it doesn’t have the ability to invite any Highland League clubs into the competition.
“We hope in the future that may change and that some other competitions, including the League Cup, we still receive an invite to participate.”
In December, the Scottish Lowland Football League confirmed that its members voted in favour of refusing future invites to SPFL cup competitions if places were to be solely allocated on the clubs former status as an SPFL member.
It was motivated as Albion Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire who were all relegated from the SPFL in previous seasons, were chosen to play in the tournament despite finishing below other clubs in the league.
They publicly published a response to the SPFL in December which read: “SLFL clubs have now voted upon the proposal you submitted and based on the decision of the majority the Lowland League’s official agreed position can now be confirmed as being that its clubs do not wish to be considered for invitation to the SPFL’s cup competitions if the SPFL chooses to issue such invitations based on clubs’ former membership of the SPFL.
“The League’s preferred position remains that invitations should be based upon sporting merit in line with UEFA commitments.”
“While we respect the SPFL’s right to select participants to their cup competitions as they see fit, we firmly believe that these places should be allocated to teams based on their efforts and achievements on the field of play, and not because they are former members of an organisation.
“Earlier this year UEFA published their Strategic Vision and for 2030 it states: “UEFA seeks a competitive balance where qualification and opportunities are based on sporting merit.”
The SPFL announced last week the new Challenge Cup format for season 2025/26, after a recommendation from the SPFL Competitions Working Group, been approved by the SPFL Board in a further move to support the progression of the best young players in the country.
The new set-up will include William Hill Premiership B teams in a league phase format, providing more opportunities for youth players aged under 21, as they move from the academy environment to senior football.
They said further details on next season's competition format, as well as the Cooperation System, will be released in due course.
