English league sides can put fizz in the Irn-Bru Cup

IRN-BRU might be made in Scotland from girders but our national drink’s cup looks like it’s being held together by Blu-Tack and sticky-back plastic.

The Challenge Cup is creaking after the Bohemians botch up last week and jerking knees all over the shop wanting to go full Brexit, bombing out the foreign teams and taking the top flight colt sides with them.

Let’s hang on a wee second. The Irn-Bru Cup does need looked at – but that doesn’t mean turning back the clock.

This tournament can have a purpose.

It has been an SPFL Trojan horse for cross border competitions but we’ve been crossing the wrong borders.

Including Irish, Welsh and English non-league sides is a waste of time.

The Championship, Leagues One and Two are the breeding grounds for tons of our young players. Just about every side has a few on loan from the Premiership boys or are developing kids themselves.

They are not learning anything going up against Connah’s Quay Nomads or Crusaders.

Let’s try breaking another border instead.

The English version of the Challenge Cup is also on its last legs. They made it the bottom two leagues plus academy sides from the Premier League and Championships in the Checkatrade Cup but it’s driven punters away.

The shambles this year could be the opportunity to really make it interesting.

Hop on board with the Checkatrade. When it gets to the last eight stage, merge with the English boys and see what happens then.

It’d be a step up for the likes of Falkirk going up against a Sunderland or a Southampton Under-23s.

In all honesty, our lads would probably get gubbed.

But getting horsed is not always a bad thing. Players will only improve by playing better sides.

A Celtic colt side up against an EPL one would benefit everyone concerned.

Ah, but what about the wee teams who love the Challenge Cup and the chance to lift some silverware?

It was a cracking comp over the years, especially when it got to the final.

But the people who moan about the foreign and kids teams devaluing the tournament have missed a point.

There are so many loan players down the leagues, their teams are already almost colt teams.

The big clubs do them

Including Irish, Welsh and English non-league sides is a waste of time

a turn by letting them have their youngsters but they are learning the square root of hee haw going up against each other in League Two.

Get them on the same pitch as some English League One beast, or some of these English academy lads who are real athletic specimens.

Our wee weedy guys will soon see what’s needed to get up to scratch.

They can moan about it but the wee teams need to give a little back. It might just be fun too.

The hardest part may be convincing our English chums but with Checkatrade sponsorship up in a couple of years, there is time to present a case and if you don’t ask, you don’t get. OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT