The SPFL are in danger of losing the Challenge Cup- known as the Ramsdens Cup for the last three seasons.
The competition came into being in 1990 as part of the Scottish Football League’s centenary celebrations and has become a welcome source of income and occasional glamour for lower division clubs.
Pawn-brokers Ramsdens have backed the competition for the last three seasons but have been unable to strike a new agreement with Neil Doncaster’s SPFL.
With no sponsorship deals in place for the league itself, or the League Cup failing to find a sponsor the the Challenge Cup is another massive slap in the face for Doncaster who decided to go to the Daily Record to explain why the SPFL pay broadcasters to show lower division matches.
This season’s Challenge Cup will involved Hearts, Hibs and Sevco with some media outlets describing the SPFL Championship as the most exciting league in the world.
The draw for the Challenge Cup is normally made in the week following the end of the previous season with the first round, drawn on a regional basis, taking place in the last weekend of July two weeks before the SPFL season starts.
With no sign of a sponsor the SPFL will have to decide whether to continue with the tournament or whether to mothball it as they did in season 98/99 when they were unable to find a sponsor.
In the latest update for the Ramsdens Cup on the SPFL website Doncaster says: “The first official SPFL season has already provided many highlights and memorable moments and we look forward to its conclusion, including the widely-anticipated play-offs which this year will feature the new Premiership play-off.
“We are also very busy planning for season 2014/15 and are pleased to announce the start dates across league and cup competitions. There are some very positive stories to be told across all our leagues at the moment and we only see the level of interest in Scottish football increasing further in the months ahead and as next season kicks off.”
The first round of the Challenge Cup is scheduled for July 26, in last season’s final Raith Rovers beat League One Sevco 1-0 at Easter Road.
