SLIGO ROVERS AND Bray Wanderers are set to add a bit of fizz to Scotland’s IRN-BRU Cup.
The two Airtricity League teams have been invited to enter the tournament in 2017-2018.
The news, which comes as part of the Scottish FA’s move to expand the competition, was announced today by FAI Director of Competitions Fran Gavin.
The Scottish Challenge Cup, now sponsored by the cult fizzy drink, has typically been contested by teams outside of the Scottish Premiership as well as U20 teams from the top-flight clubs.
But the 2016-17 renewal also featured two clubs apiece from Northern Ireland and Wales for the first time.
As winners and runners-up of the NIFL Premiership and Welsh Premier League respectively, Crusaders, Linfield, The New Saints and Bala Town were all seeded to enter the competition in the last 16 which took place in October.
TNS are the only one of the four still standing in this season’s competition, facing a semi-final against St Mirren this weekend.
At today’s league launch in the Aviva Stadium, the FAI also announced the appointment of a marketing executive to work solely on the SSE Airtricity League.
The TV fixture schedule for the opening weeks of the season has also been confirmed, starting with eir Sport’s live coverage of champions Dundalk against Shamrock Rovers on 24 Feburary.
- Friday 24 February: Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park, KO 20:00, eir Sport
- Friday 3 March: Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Tallaght Stadium, KO 19:30, RTE2
- Friday 10 March: Drogheda United v Cork City, United Park, KO 20:00, eir Sport
- Saturday 25 March: Cork City v Dundalk, Turner’s Cross, KO 15:00, RTE2
- Friday 31 March: Dundalk v Drogheda United, Oriel Park, KO 19:30, RTE2
- Friday 7 April: Cork City v Derry City, Turner’s Cross, KO 19:30, RTE2
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