The SPFL has announced a new format for the SPFL Trust Trophy for Season 2024/25.
This new format will involve only clubs that play in Scottish leagues – and will see those clubs playing in next season’s SPFL Trust Trophy sharing a record-breaking prize pot.
An estimated £790,000 in prize money will be shared with clubs for the 2024/25 SPFL Trust Trophy – an increase of 58% on this year’s competition.
Next season’s winners will receive £100,000, which is a 100% increase on the amount won by this season’s cup winners, Airdrieonians.
Further sums are available as ‘facility fees’ for all live TV games, with the final payout to clubs set to exceed £800,000 for the first time ever.
The draw for the opening rounds of the SPFL Trust Trophy will take place in early July.
Neil Doncaster, group chief executive of the SPFL, said: “We’re really pleased to announce record prize money for the SPFL Trust Trophy next season.
“The SPFL Trust have been fantastic supporters of this important cup competition. Their investment, and the continuing generosity of James and Morag Anderson, is greatly appreciated.
“We have very much enjoyed the participation of cross-border teams, who have competed in six seasons of this competition since they first joined in Season 2016/17. However, their involvement does further complicate our already congested fixture schedule. Hence the SPFL Trust Trophy will revert to a Scottish-only competition next season.
“We are delighted to welcome five Highland League clubs and six Lowland League clubs into the SPFL Trust Trophy next season.”
The full schedule of prize monies for the 2024/25 SPFL Trust Trophy is set out below:
- Winners - £100,000
- Runners-up - £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists - £40,000
- Losing quarter-finalists - £30,000
- 4th round losers - £20,000
- 3rd round losers - £15,000
- 2nd round losers - £10,000
- 1st round losers - £5,000
In addition, each club playing (whether home or away) in a live televised SPFL Trust Trophy on BBC ALBA will receive a facility fee payment of £1,500.
The new format of the SPFL Trust Trophy is as follows:
Round 1 (22 clubs – 11 ties) – Midweek of July 30/31
Seeded and regionalised (B teams kept apart)
• 11 Premiership B teams
• 5 Highland League clubs from 2023/24 (Buckie Thistle, Brechin City, Fraserburgh, Banks o’Dee, and Formartine United)
• 6 Lowland League clubs from 2023/24 (East Kilbride, Bo’ness United, Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Berwick Rangers, and East Stirlingshire)
Round 2 (18 clubs – 9 ties) – Midweek of August 13/14
Regionalised but not seeded
• 11 Round 1 winners
• Clubs 4th -10th in League 2 in 2023/24
Round 3 (32 clubs – 16 ties) – Weekend of September 7/8
All-in draw – no seeding
• 9 Round 2 winners
• Clubs 1st - 3rd in League 2 in 2023/24
• Clubs 1st - 10th in League 1 2023/24
• Clubs 2nd - 10th in Championship 2023/24
• Club 12th in Premiership in 2023/24
Round 4 (16 clubs – 8 ties) – Weekend of October 12/13
Quarter-finals (8 clubs – 4 ties) – Midweek of November 12/13
Semi-finals (4 clubs – 2 ties) – Midweek of January 28/29
Final – Weekend of March 22/23 or March 29/30
