The format for this year’s Scottish Cup is set to be decided tomorrow.
Normally, the preliminary rounds take place in August with South of Scotland League clubs St Cuthbert Wanderers and Threave Rovers among the teams in contention.
However, the coronavirus pandemic means that won’t happen, with the South of Scotland League not beginning until the end of September at the earliest.
As a result, the SFA is proposing a revised format for this year’s competition.
That will be outlined at a Zoom meeting tomorrow with Threave, Saints and Lowland League side Dalbeattie Star among those invited.
At the moment, details about what the proposal from the governing body are are thin on the ground.
South of Scotland League secretary, Richard Osborne, said: “All we have been told in the email is there is a proposal but we don’t know what that proposal will be.
“I’ll be speaking to South league clubs about what their views may be.”
The delayed start isn’t helped by the increased number of teams in this season’s competition due to the formation of the West of Scotland League, featuring former junior clubs.
There is also the issue of the logistics of games involving teams at opposite ends of the country, with Threave and Saints having taken on opposition from as far flung outposts as Golspie and Wick since the turn of the millennium.
There have even been suggestions some clubs may not be allowed to take part in the cup in a bid to get the games played and ease fixture congestion.
As well as Threave and Saints, fellow South clubs Newton Stewart and Wigtown & Bladnoch will also be affected.
