Robbo wants rid of the pitfalls and perils of Tunnock’s trophy
John Robertson is calling for a revamp of a Challenge Cup format riddled with financial risks for vulnerable Scottish clubs.
The Inverness Caley Thistle manager insists he has treated Scotland’s third cup competition with the utmost respect.
He guided his team to the trophy late in season 2017/18, and today stands potentially 90 minutes away from another Final, when his side hosts Rangers Colts.
But the reality for clubs like the Caley Jags, battling to stem a tide of financial losses, is that the competition’s draw throws up a variety of pitfalls and perils.
Drawing a team from Wales, England or one north or south of the Irish border, would present a hefty financial hit to a club like Caley Thistle – something they have so far avoided.
But Robertson revealed even the visit of a young Rangers’ team for today’s semifinal would hit club coffers.
He said: “We will likely lose money this weekend due to stewarding, and the fact police are treating this as a game against Rangers, rather than looking at it as a game against Rangers’ Colts.
“Our police and security bill will be rather substantial, so I can’t see the club making any money out of it at all.
“We’ll lose money – and that’s just the way it is.
“So while it’s a competition we like and take seriously, the SPFL will maybe have to look at how to revamp it.”
Robertson also questioned the validity of allowing the entry of teams from other home nations, given the apparent lack of regard some have shown to the competition.
He stressed: “It is hard to say what Colts teams have added, because this is the first time any of them has got this far.
“It is a difficult competition now. You’ve got the Colts teams, and some teams don’t play at full strength.
“You’ve then got the cross-border teams, and this year I’m not so sure they’ve taken the Cup seriously.
“Wrexham sent up their youth team or reserves to play at Ibrox in the last round. Ballymena sent their youth team out to play Hearts.
“The cross-border idea, for me, has probably run its course.
“It is a big financial burden for clubs to play outside Scotland as well.
“We’ve just got our heads down and played each round as it comes, and we’ll do the same on Sunday.”
Robertson couldn’t be accused of taking today’s semi-final lightly.
He has put the Rangers’ youths under intense scrutiny, both in terms of scouting and video footage, while also warning his players of Shrewsbury Town’s recent defeat to Liverpool’s youths in the FA Cup.
On top of that, he experienced at first hand the benefits of winning the competition in 2017/18 as Caley Thistle licked their wounds after relegation.
Robertson said: “In the first year I was back here, we had a brand-new team, with a lot of new players.
“We felt we had to use the competition for momentum – and it helped us hugely.
“It was the start of a run of clean sheets that broke the club record so, in that respect, it worked for us.
“Once we got to the semi-finals, we wanted to go all the way and this year is no different.
“Last year we put out a very young side, playing kids to give ourselves better options in the league.
“One drawback of getting far in this competition is you start to have league matches postponed and need to get them fitted in elsewhere.
“But we’ve got here – and now we want to get to the final.
“We’ve prepared properly and we’re looking forward to what will be a very unusual challenge on Sunday.”
Robertson holds no concerns about how this cup, as well as progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, might affect league scheduling.
He added: “A couple of years ago, we ended up playing Saturday-Tuesday all the way to the end of the season, winning 11 and drawing three of our last 14 fixtures.
“Sometimes it can build momentum and give you a platform to build on in the league, but all we’re concentrating on is the game on Sunday.
“We had a good result against Livingston in the Scottish Cup last week and want to build on that.”