THE SPFL deserve credit for their approach to trying to innovate our game and, ultimately, make it sexy.

Following on from introducing a group stage to the Betfed Cup as well as awarding an extra point for a penalty shootout win, it has been announced the Challenge Cup will now include teams from Wales, Northern Ireland, the Highland and Lowland Leagues as well as U20 teams.

We have to try and make our game more attractive, and I admire them to try and do something.

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If we do this with lower league clubs in a competition, maybe further down the line we could do it with the League Cup or the Scottish Cup. We are starting to think in Britain ‘Yes, we can go cross border again’.

This will be right up the street of both Old Firm clubs who have been trying for so many years to get into the Premiership. This could pave the way that further down the line something could maybe happen.Glasgow Times: Dominic Ball of Rangers holds Leigh Griffiths of Celtic during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden

Rangers and Celtic will be keeping a very close eye on this. Rangers have maybe held back a little bit recently, but Celtic still seem really keen.

If it ever did happen both clubs would be delighted. Even the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts, you can’t rule that out either with the way they are going. These two clubs are right behind them now challenging.

Anything that is going to sexy up our game, should be welcomed. It may be teams from Northern Ireland and Wales, but it is fresh opposition and it should be commended.

They take a lot of stick, but at least the SPFL are trying to use some initiative. I’m all for it.