Sligo Rovers boss Dave Robertson says he is fully in favour of League of Ireland clubs taking part in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Rovers and Bray Wanderers will be entered into the 2017/2018 running of the competition as a reward for finishing fifth and sixth in last season’s Premier Division table.
Rovers are set to enter the cup at the quarter-final stage towards the end of this year’s Premier Division campaign, which starts with an away game against Limerick next Friday.
And Robertson believes it is a good move…
This Sunday, the Bit O’ Red round off their pre-season campaign with a home game against Athlone Town at 5pm in the Showgrounds.
And Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps will travel to first division Cabinteely for a final friendly on Saturday.
The game kicks off at 2pm at Stradbrook Road.
Meanwhile, Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty is calling on club supporters to get involved with one of the club’s sub-committees ahead of the new season.
As part of their recently-published five-year strategic plan, the management committee want to establish up to ten sub-committees with a specific focus to enable better management of all areas of the club.
The chairman says there is a role for everybody within the club…
Meanwhile, the draw for the first round of the EA Sports Cup has been made.
Rovers and Derry City have been given byes into the second round in Pool 2, while Finn Harps will play fellow Donegal side Cockhill Celtic at home.
In the same pool, Galway United host the Mayo League.
The full EA SPORTS Cup first-round draw is as follows:-
Pool 1 – Cobh Ramblers v Avondale United; Wexford v Waterford. Byes: Cork City, Limerick.
Pool 2 – Finn Harps v Cockhill Celtic; Galway United v Mayo League. Byes: Derry City, Sligo Rovers.
Pool 3 – Drogheda United v Bray Wanderers; St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bluebell United. Byes: Dundalk, U.C.D.
Pool 4 – Athlone Town v Longford Town; Bohemians v Cabinteely. Byes: Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne.
Matches to be played on Monday/Tuesday, March 20th/21st with dates and times to be confirmed at a later date.
Clubs who are involved in SSE Airtricity League fixtures on Saturday, 18th March are entitled to play their EA SPORTS Cup fixture on Tuesday, March 21st.
