SFA to revamp Scottish Cup

The SFA were yesterday looking at plans to breathe new life into the Scottish Cup. In season 2007/2008 we could see such ties as Tayport v Dundee United at the Canniepairt, Rangers v Pollok at Ibrox and so on and so forth.

David Taylor is asking the member clubs to consider changing the format of the trophy to allow more smaller teams the chance of a ?shot at glory?. For those of you who remember the movie about the small town team that got to the final against Rangers and what it meant to them. (a story similar to that of Clydebank FC, an owner intent on moving them to Dublin, had little interest in keeping them at their own stadium) Taylor has said to be wishing to ?stimulate media interest in the competition from Round one?.

Taylor has circulated a few ideas concerning re-formatting the tournament and the inclusion of the non-league teams. Previously, non-league teams could enter, but through the qualifying cup. (which meant by the time Round 1 happened, they had already played about 6-7 games)

Taylor?s proposals include the possible introduction (for the first time) of the Junior teams into the Scottish Cup. That in itself is no bad thing as many Junior sides would more than outmatch their counterparts in the SFL Division 3. The SFA wishes to hand a place to the OVD Junior cup winners and the winners of the three regional Super Leagues. My hope is this is the start of a pyramid system that has worked to Englands benefit for years.

Taylor wishes to expand the 1st Round from 50 teams to 64 teams, include all league sides at Round 1, and having a proper knock out competition. Who could argue that this season has been one of the most exciting Scottish Cups in years?. We have both Rangers and Celtic knocked out in early rounds, the Division two leaders against a mid table Division one team in one semi-final and an all Edinburgh derby in the other final. One things for sure, it will be a new name on the cup this season. Out of the four semi finalists, Hearts have been the most recent winners. (in 1998)

I hope that the plans are successful as it will lead to interest all through the competition and not just at the later rounds. I am also hoping that TV rights get secured for the whole competition and not just for Round 3 onwards.

These all seem very radical plans and I hope for the sake of the beautiful game in Scotland they are acted upon. I do hope the men at the SFA act with the interests of the good of the game and allow this to happen.

Proud to be an Arab

KA77