THE Irn-Bru Cup will feature two new teams, one less round and more prize money in the 2017/18 season, the Scottish Professional Football League has announced.

There will be six rounds rather than seven from next season, with the competition running from August until March. 

It was previously confirmed that League of Ireland sides Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers will join at the second round stage, along with Northern Ireland's Crusaders and Linfield and The New Saints and Gap Connah’s Quay from Wales.

Prize money for 2017/18 has gone up by nine per cent to £335,200, while clubs travelling overseas for matches will receive a contribution of £5,000 to help cover costs.

The draw for the first round takes place next Tuesday, 27 June, at 1pm and will feature 48 sides taken from the bottom three tiers of the SPFL, Highland and Lowland League clubs and Premiership Colt teams.

First round fixtures will be played on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 August.

Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “Following the success of the new format of the IRN-BRU Cup in its inaugural season, we have worked to further improve the competition for clubs and supporters. 

“By increasing prize money, removing one round and introducing more new teams to the competition, we believe this year’s IRN-BRU Cup will be stronger, more competitive and even more exciting. We look forward to the First Round Draw next Tuesday and wish all clubs the very best of luck.” 

Regionalised Draw (unseeded)

North Section

6 North Colt Teams / 4 Scottish Highland League Clubs / 14 SPFL Clubs

1    ALLOA ATHLETIC
2    ARBROATH
3    BRECHIN CITY
4    COWDENBEATH
5    DUNDEE UNITED
6    DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC
7    EAST FIFE
8    ELGIN CITY
9    FORFAR ATHLETIC
10    MONTROSE
11    PETERHEAD
12    RAITH ROVERS
13    STENHOUSEMUIR
14    STIRLING ALBION
15    ABERDEEN COLTS
16    DUNDEE COLTS
17    HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN COLTS
18    HIBERNIAN COLTS
19    ROSS COUNTY COLTS
20    ST. JOHNSTONE COLTS
21    BRORA RANGERS
22    BUCKIE THISTLE
23    COVE RANGERS
24    FORMARTINE UNITED

South Section

6 South Colt Teams / 4 Scottish Lowland League Clubs / 14 SPFL Clubs

25    AIRDRIEONIANS
26    ALBION ROVERS
27    ANNAN ATHLETIC
28    AYR UNITED 
29    BERWICK RANGERS
30    CLYDE
31    DUMBARTON
32    EDINBURGH CITY
33    LIVINGSTON
34    MORTON
35    QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
36    QUEEN’S PARK
37    ST. MIRREN 
38    STRANRAER
39    CELTIC COLTS
40    HAMILTON ACADEMICAL COLTS
41    KILMARNOCK COLTS
42    MOTHERWELL COLTS
43    PARTICK THISTLE COLTS
44    RANGERS COLTS
45    EAST KILBRIDE
46    EAST STIRLINGSHIRE
47    SPARTANS
48    STIRLING UNIVERSITY

SECOND ROUND (Saturday 2 or Sunday 3 September 2017)

32 clubs broken down as follows:

2 clubs from Ladbrokes Championship 

Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle

2 clubs from Northern Ireland Football League – Crusaders and Linfield

2 clubs from 2 Welsh Premier League – Gap Connah’s Quay and The New Saints

2 clubs from 2 League of Ireland Premier Division – Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers 

24 winners from First Round

THIRD ROUND (Saturday 7 or Sunday 8 October 2017)

16 winners from the Second Round (8 ties)

QUARTER-FINALS (Saturday 11 or Sunday 12 November 2017)

8 winners from the Third Round (4 ties)

SEMI-FINALS (Saturday 17 or Sunday 18 February 2018)

4 winners from the Quarter-Finals (2 ties)

FINAL (Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 March 2018)

2 winners from the Semi-Finals (1 tie)