SPFL suffering more Cup woes over scheduling
The SPFL have been left embarrassed by another Cup farce after putting next month’s Irn-Bru Cup quarter-final between Bohemians and East Fife on hold until 2019, as the Irish side will have ended their season before it was due to be played. The Hampden body angered everyone with their plan to play next weekend’s Betfred Cup semi-finals on the same day at the National Stadium, before sending Celtic to Murrayfield to face Hearts. Now they seemed unaware of when the SSE Airtricity League ends. The Fifers, managed by Darren Young, were scheduled to be in Dublin to play the tie on Saturday, November 17. However, they do not know when they game will now be played as Bohemians end their season this Friday, October 26, and several of their players will be out of contract shortly afterwards. The SPFL also seem to have been unaware of when the new League of Ireland Premier Division starts next year as the semi-finals have been scheduled for February 16, the same day as football kicks off again in Ireland. That could see Bohemians have to play East Fife as part of their pre-season programme with the winners then quickly having to arrange a semi-final. The introduction of non-Scottish teams to the competition has proven troublesome this season with Bray Wanderers selected before being thrown out by the Football Association of Ireland for failing to pay their players. They were replaced by Limerick but they were also removed due to financial difficulties, with their place going to St Patrick’s Athletic, who declined the opportunity. Sligo Rovers finally accepted the position and reached the third round before being defeated by a Motherwell Colts side who have reached the last-eight without facing a senior Scottish side. A SPFL spokesperson said: “The IrnBru Cup quarter-final between Bohemians and East Fife, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 17, will not take place on that date. “Alternative dates have been considered, however, as yet, none have been found to be satisfactory. We will work with both clubs and our colleagues at the League of Ireland to find a suitable date, likely in early 2019, and will announce details in due course.”