SPFL revamp cup competition in new 'Champions League-style' format
The SPFL has announced a major revamp of the Challenge Cup, with the competition taking on a new format and new rules aimed at helping develop young talent.
The competition, which is open to clubs from below the Premiership, as well as 'B' teams from some top-flight sides, will now be known as the KDM Evolution Trophy after a multi-year sponsorship deal was agreed with the construction firm.
Traditionally played as a straight knock-out cup competition, the new format will see most clubs play in an initial 'League Phase' inspired by UEFA's Champions League and other continental competitions.
The first round league phase will comprise ten League 1 clubs, ten League 2 clubs, and ten Premiership B-teams.
Clubs participating in the league phase of the competition will be split into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections, reducing travel costs for clubs and supporters across six league phase matchdays.
Points gained by clubs across six league phase matchdays will feed into a single league table, with the top 22 clubs qualifying for the seeded knock-out Round of 32.
William Hill Championship clubs will enter the competition from the Round of 32 as seeded clubs, alongside clubs finishing in the top six of the league phase, with the remainder of the competition following a traditional knock-out format
The new look comes with an increased prize pot, with £1.25m to be shared amongst the clubs, which is an increase of 50% on this year's competition. The team that lifts the trophy will collect £150,000 as champions.
Tournament organisers also hope that the cup can help to aid the development of young talent, with players aged 15 and over now eligible to compete. The change comes as part of an initiative from the Scottish FA and SPFL to provide more opportunities for players in the key 'transition phase' of ages 16-21 as they look to progress from academy football to senior first team games.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: 'We've had long discussions with our member clubs and the Scottish FA about this new competition format and we've also introduced some key principles to reduce travel time and costs, particularly for William Hill League 1 and 2 clubs.
'We would lastly like to thank the SPFL Trust and the donors who support them, who have been fantastic supporters of this competition for the last four seasons.'
Ian Jones, chief executive of sponsors KDM Group, said: 'We're incredibly proud to support the launch of this exciting new football competition and to see the KDM Evolution Trophy come to life.
'The name reflects the evolution of our business, from a small shopfitting company to a leading international brand. It mirrors the journey of this tournament and the aspiring players it supports.
'Our investment in football spans all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage. Through our KDM Group Soccer Centres, we provide primary-aged schoolgirls access to the game whilst having fun, helping to grow the game from the ground up. We've previously been the official partner of the Scottish Cup and are proud sponsors of the Scotland Women's National Team & Dunfermline Athletic FC.
'This new tournament is another step forward, providing a platform for talent to grow and evolve, just as we have.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Pep Guardiola looking forward to Club World Cup despite Man City workload fears
When Rodri suggested last September that players could strike over their increased workload, it seemed this summer's newly expanded Club World Cup was the last thing Manchester City needed. The influential Spanish midfielder may also have been making a point about the expanded Champions League format, but the additional tournament, shoehorned into a period normally kept free for rest, was clearly a bone of contention. Advertisement 'I think we are close to that,' said the Ballon d'Or winner when asked if players could stage industrial action over their seemingly ever-growing fixture commitments. 'If it keeps this way, (there) will be a moment that we have no other option, but let's see.' Rodri expressed concerns about fixture overload last year (Martin Rickett/PA) As the season then unfolded, with City suffering an uncharacteristic blip – failing to put up a strong defence of the Premier League title they had won for the previous four years and exiting the Champions League before the last 16 – it looked like they would need the break to regroup. Yet as the time has neared, no doubt helped by the announcement the winners of FIFA's latest showcase event could pocket close to £100million, the tone has changed. If Pep Guardiola has reservations about fixture congestion, injuries and a lack of preparation time for next season – all more than hinted at over the past season – he is now keeping them to himself. Advertisement 'This is a very, very serious competition,' the City manager said recently with typical vigour. 'In the summer, the whole world will be watching this. 'A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament and I can assure you, we're going to give it our best shot. We're going there to win it.' Pep Guardiola's side won the 2023 Club World Cup (PA Wire) City were the last team to win the Club World Cup in its old guise in December 2023, but that only required them to win two games in the space of four days. The new quadrennial tournament is a different proposition, featuring 32 teams and lasting a month, following a format used for the traditional World Cup. Advertisement City have been placed in Group G for this summer's edition in the United States alongside Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. Their regular Champions League foes Real Madrid could lie in wait in the first knockout round. Other notable sides involved include newly-crowned European champions Paris St Germain and the beaten finalists Inter Milan, Premier League rivals Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. There are 12 European entrants in total with six from South America, six from South America, four each from Africa and Asia, five from North America and one from Oceania. Brazil has the most participants of any one country with four. The tournament, which begins on June 14, has had plenty of detractors, particularly from Europe, and its success remains to be seen. Advertisement For City the message is now clear, however. They would rather be involved than not. 'It's an honour,' Guardiola said. 'It means in the last seasons we have done really well. It's a new competition for us and I'm looking forward to it.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Kevin De Bruyne's three-word message after joining Napoli from Man City
Kevin De Bruyne has decided to join Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City, with the Belgian now looking to help them retain their Serie A title next season Kevin De Bruyne has issued a three-word message after completing his free transfer from Manchester City to Napoli. The Belgian spent a decade at the Etihad Stadium, lifting six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a treble-winning season. But City decided to allow him to leave when his contract expired this summer. That was against De Bruyne's wishes, with the 33-year-old caught by surprise by the club's decision to let him go. The midfielder was linked with a move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. A deal with Lionel Messi's side did not come to fruition, with De Bruyne instead opting to remain in Europe. The club he has decided to join is Napoli, who won the Serie A title this season. They are managed by Antonio Conte, a man De Bruyne has never played under, but who holds a reputation for being one of the best coaches in the game. The completion of the deal was announced on Thursday with a picture of De Bruyne alongside Napoli club president Aurelio De Laurentiis. Alongside the picture, De Bruyne included a short message to his new club. De Bruyne wrote: "Sono qui." That translates to 'I am here' in English. The Belgian also added a blue love heart emoji to the end of the message. Meanwhile De Laurentiis also posted the photo on his social media pages, along with the comment: "Benvenuto Kevin!" That translates into 'Welcome Kevin' in English. Napoli have won two of the last three Serie A titles, with this season's success led by former Premier League players Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay. Former Manchester United star McTominay was also named the Italian top-flight's Player of the Year. A leaving ceremony was held for De Bruyne after his final game at the Etihad. During that, the Belgian delivered an emotional speech to the crowd to thank them for their support. 'It's been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It's been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure,' De Bruyne said. 'It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the Club the success we enjoyed. I'm super proud to have played a part in that. Manchester has been my home and my family's home for these past 10 years. 'Everybody pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself. They made me so much better than I was before. 'And the City fans were so welcoming from the beginning and to have had a full stadium supporting me and family [was] indescribable. Thank you very much.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool and Chelsea receive defiant message over £85m star Hugo Ekitike
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is one of the most in-demand talents in world football, with Chelsea and Liverpool both keen on a move for the 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt CEO Markus Krosche maintains the club don't need so sell Hugo Ekitike amid Premier League interest. Liverpool and Chelsea are both keen on the French frontman, who has been valued at around £85million. The Bundesliga side cashed in on Ekitike's former team-mate Omar Marmoush in January, with the forward joining Manchester City in a £59m deal. They still finished third, thanks in no small part to Ekitike's goals, and booked a return to the Champions League next term. 'If the price isn't right, then he'll just stay with us," Krosche told Wiesbadener Kurier when discussing the player. "We don't have to sell Hugo.' According to Sky Deutschland, Liverpool and Chelsea both remain in the race for Ekitike. However, it appears neither will be able to get a discount on the former Paris Saint-Germain striker. Wiesbadener Kurier reported earlier in the week that Frankfurt are keen on Mainz's Jonathan Burkardt as they look to bolster their attacking ranks. The German international could join Ekitike rather than replacing him, though, with Mainz after a fee north of £25m. Reims-born striker Ekitike burst onto the scene as a teenager with his hometown club, prompting PSG to fork out around £30m to bring him to the Parc des Princes. They took a significant loss when selling him on to Frankfurt in 2024, but the frontman's next move could come for substantially more. Ekitike initially moved to Germany on loan in January 2024, helping Dino Toppmoller's team finish sixth in the Bundesliga. A permanent switch followed, and 15 of his 22 goals this term came in the league as only Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen finished ahead of Toppmoller's side. Chelsea have been busy this month, making a number of signings ahead of their Club World Cup campaign. They weren't able to wrap up a deal for Ekitike in time, though, while fellow targets Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan have also stayed put for now. Enzo Maresca has been able to include three new arrivals in his squad, though. Liam Delap is involved after joining from Ipswich Town, with Dario Essugo, Mike Penders and Mamadou Sarr also part of the 28-man squad, while there's also a chance for Aaron Anselmino - signed last summer - to make his competitive debut for the Blues following a loan spell at former club Boca Juniors. Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign gets underway on June 16, when they take on Los Angeles FC in Atlanta, with games against Flamengo and Esperance to follow. LAFC were last-minute additions to the competition, winning a play-off against Club America to take the place of Leon in the draw.
