Phenomenal?

The wretched Irn Bru Cup is drawn today. Fans have turned their back on this tournament, yet SPFL chief

executive Neil Doncaster talks of “building on the success of last year’s competition”. I would like to hear his definition of “success”. Last season 54,620 fans attended the competition, against the backdrop of the exciting,revamped, Betfred League Cup, attracting 396,855. Betfred and BT Sport poured millions into the League Cup while Irn Bru, reportedly, pays in £335,200.

The competition is a financial nightmare for Championship clubs, now forced to take part in earlier rounds (there was a bye to Round 3 a year ago) and facing the potential expense of a long journey and overnight stay in the far north, or the nonsense of meeting a Premier club’s U20 team.

Read the worthy aims of this tournament and you come across this one in the small print: “It establishes the principle of cross border competition with a view to future developments in the game across Europe.” Later it reads: “Uefa have given it their blessing”. There we are, in black and white. It is not so much about establishing links with clubs from Wales, N Ireland and Eire. It is a back door move to gain acceptance for the Old Firm playing in England. Judging by the derisory attendance figures, Scottish fans are not fooled. You don’t hold a party if folk won’t come! JOHN V LLOYD. The Maltings

Keith Place Inverkeithing Fife