First test for new bosses as Premier Sports Cup marks start of season

The season starts here.

Just seven weeks after Livingston triumphed in the Premiership play-off to draw a line under the 2024/25 season, Scottish clubs are back in action as the first competitive football of the new campaign kicks off up and down the country.

Sixteen SPFL clubs are looking for a positive start in the Premier Sports Cup, and there will be plenty of new faces on the pitch and in the dugout, as the group stage gets under way.

Celtic are the holders, after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Rangers in last year’s final, but the Glasgow giants, alongside Scotland’s other European representatives Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United, sit out the group stage as they aim to qualify for continental competition.

That puts the focus on the other Premiership sides aiming to get off to a good start. No fewer than four have appointed new managers in the summer and will be playing their first competitive games under their new boss.

Derek McInnes will take charge of his first competitive game as Hearts boss. SNS Group

Derek McInnes made the move from Kilmarnock to become Hearts head coach over the summer and he’s been tasked with delivering success at Tynecastle, with an impact in cup competitions something the Gorgie faithful will expect. The club have been busy over the break with a host of new signings already made and there was a huge boost to their hopes as Lawrence Shankland agreed to remain at the club, signing a three-year contract.

Hearts fans will be excited to see the new recruits in action when they face Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in the late kick-off on Saturday. But the manager already has a selection decision to make with new signing Stuart Findlay suspended and fellow centre-back Jamie McCart struggling with injury.

Kilmarnock moved swiftly to replace McInnes, naming former Ross County and Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell as his successor. He and his team face a trip north to take on Brora Rangers in their first group match on Saturday and Kettlewell will be hoping for a winning start and a chance to build momentum.

Killie have welcomed Greg Kiltie back to the club as one of nine new arrivals so far, but after a number of first team stars left, including Bobby Wales, Kyle Vassell and Danny Armstrong, the rebuild is likely to continue after the competitive action starts.

Dundee’s decision to part company with Tony Docherty at the end of last season raised some eyebrows, and the move to appoint Steven Pressley as his successor was even more of a surprise. Pressley acknowledged he will have to win over the doubters amongst the supporters, and a good start will be key. The Dark Blues begin their cup campaign with a home game against Airdrieonians, and the manager, who has brought in four new faces, including Drey Wright, will take charge of a competitive game in Scotland for the first time since 2013.

New Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou will see his reshaped side in action. SNS Group

It’s been a summer of change at Motherwell too, after Michael Wimmer quit as boss to return home for personal reasons after just 12 games in charge. Jens Berthel Askou has taken charge and the Dane has the intention of playing a more expansive style of football.

Supporters will get to see that being put into practice when the team play their first competitive game against Clyde at New Douglas Park on Saturday. Ten players returned to their clubs at the end of their Fir Park loans over the summer, four more were released, and two left the club, meaning the squad is going to have a new look. To date, only four new faces have arrived, but Askou will still be expected to deliver a winning start.

St Mirren have delivered three successive top-six finishes in the league as the Buddies enjoy life under Stephen Robinson, but a lengthy cup run has eluded the 2013 winners in recent years. They begin their latest campaign away at Arbroath and will have designs on three points on the way to topping their group and going further in the competition.

Falkirk fans are eagerly anticipating their return to the Premiership but before the newly-promoted side take on top flight opposition once again, they have cup action to enjoy. John McGlynn’s side reached the quarter-finals of the competition last season, only knocked out by eventual winners Celtic in an entertaining 5-2 defeat at Parkhead.

The Bairns start with an easier task away at Brechin City in their first group game, but the emphasis will be on building up a head of steam and a points tally that will have the team in a positive mood when they unfurl the Championship winners’ flag ahead of their league opener next month.

Livingston fell just short of pipping Falkirk to the title last season but secure promotion through the play-offs. They also begin their cup journey away taking on East Fife, and David Martindale will be hoping there are no slip ups as his side look to show progress in the competition after missing out on the knockout stages last season.

The season begins with Friday night football as Partick Thistle, under new manager Mark Wilson, travel to play Edinburgh City.