Talks held to discuss merger of league cups

PLANS to establish a British Cup by amalgamating Scotland’s CIS Cup and England’s Worthington Cup have been hatched in a secret meeting between administrators from north and south of the Border.

The Scottish Premier League yesterday refused to confirm or deny reports that six of its member clubs will be invited to play in next season’s Worthington Cup and that a British-wide tournament would begin the season after. "We have discussions with our football administrative colleagues in the UK and in Europe on a regular basis on a variety of topics," said an SPL spokesman.

Scotland on Sunday can confirm, however, that the prospect of a British Cup, replacing the existing CIS and Worthington Cups, and incorporating all English and Scottish clubs, was discussed at a meeting last week between the SPL and the English Football League.

Despite suggestions that the Football League had also discussed the scheme with the Old Firm, Rangers secretary-director Campbell Ogilvie denied as much. "I must emphasise that these discussions have not involved the clubs," he said. "They are between the leagues."

Although the proposal has not yet been submitted to the Scottish Football Association or the Scottish Football League, the obstacles in its path are not thought to be insurmountable.

"In principle, it is possible," said SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell. "Every close-season there are competitive events involving Scottish clubs, such as the Amsterdam Tournament. In the past we have had the Anglo-Scottish Cup and the Texaco Cup. They were specially-manufactured tournaments. But the bottom line is that no approach has been made to the SFA and, until that happens, it is all speculative."

The plan requires the consent of England and Scotland’s national associations, both of whom might be interested in the chance to revive their ailing third-ranked tournaments.

One downside, from England’s point of view, is that the European place accorded winners of the Worthington Cup would not be available to the new tournament’s winners, not least because they could be Scottish.

Taken from the Scotsman