Wednesday 23rd May 2018
The SPFL is pleased to announce the seeding pots and numbers for this Friday’s 2018
Betfred Cup Group Stage draw.
The draw will be conducted live on BT Sport 2 at 6.30pm this Friday (25 May), as well as being streamed live and free-to-view on BT Sport’s Facebook page and Twitter feed
@btsportfootball, with the live stream shared by the SPFL’s own social media channels.
The draw comprises 40 clubs: the 38 SPFL clubs not participating in European competitions plus Spartans (Lowland League champions) and Cove Rangers (Highland League champions).
The format of the 2018 Betfred Cup Group Stage draw is as follows:
The draw will produce eight groups of five teams on a regionalised basis – four ‘North’ and four ‘South’ groups
All eight groups will be made up of one 1st seed, one 2nd seed and three unseeded clubs.
Prior to the draw the 40 participating teams are placed into one of three pots based on League positions at the end of season 2017/18 – 8 x 1st seeds, 8 x 2nd seeds and 24 x unseeded teams. Each of the pots is then individually split into two equal halves: North and South
o 8 x 1st seeds = 4 x North and 4 x South;
o 8 x 2nd seeds = 4 x North and 4 x South;
o 24 x Unseeded = 12 x North and 12 x South.
BT Sport continues as broadcast partner of the Betfred Cup for a third season.
The Group Stage draw sees the 40 participating clubs scheduled to play four games across five match dates – 14 July, 18 July, 21 July, 25 July and 28 July (subject to broadcast selections).
The format, announced in advance of the 2016 Betfred Cup, sees all drawn Group Stage matches go straight to a penalty shoot-out with the winners earning an extra ‘bonus point’ in addition to the traditional point given for a draw.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up progress to the last 16 where they are joined by holders Celtic and fellow European representatives Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibernian.
Dumbarton is in the South section and will be unseeded.
The top-seeded clubs are Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Hamilton Accies and Partick Thistle.
Second-seeded teams are St Mirren, Livingston, Queen of South and Morton.
Unseeded clubs alongside ourselves are – Ayr Utd, Stranraer, Airdrie, Queens Park, Albion Rovers, Stenhousemuir, Clyde, Annan Ath, Berwick Rangers, Edinburgh City, Spartans.
Alan Findlay