NEIL DONCASTER today dismissed any notion that the League Cup is in danger after the second-round draw took place without a sponsor again.

Last season, QTS came on board at the semi-final stage prior to the Old Firm clash, and the SPFL chief executive remains open-minded to a similar sponsorship agreement this year.

The SPFL was without a main sponsor for several years, too, before Ladbrokes stepped in, and Doncaster revealed they will take a similar approach over any sponsorship deal.

"The experience with Ladbrokes coming in and sponsoring the league demonstrates that holding out for the right partner and the right value is the right thing to do," Doncaster said.

"The clubs are to be commended for being bold and steadfast, that they wanted to wait for absolutely the right fit. They have done that and been rewarded for Ladbrokes, a very high-quality British business, and I think it's important that we also wait for the right fit for the League Cup as well.

“I don’t think the tournament is in any danger. It is a big part of the Scottish football calendar.”

With the early rounds struggling to create excitement among fans and with the ongoing discussion about summer football, Doncaster suggested a revamp of the competition may be an option worth exploring.

“It is under discussion and we are open-minded about it,” he said.

“There is an appetite for more football during the summer months so the possibility of a group stage being played in July is certainly one way of achieving that.

“It is a concept that is under discussion at the moment. Let’s see where that takes us.

“It could happen as early as next season. I’m not saying it will.

“But it takes time to create that will and bring it all together. We are looking at something in the League Cup which is a fundamental change. It may be a way of creating the summer football people are demanding.

“We end the season at the end of May. It is likely, if you are trying to ensure you want a proper break for the players, you might look again at a winter break.”