Soft drinks brand Irn-Bru has agreed a deal with the Scottish Professional Football League to become the title sponsor of its Challenge Cup knockout competition.
Irn-Bru has agreed a three-year deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, with the SPFL. Under the agreement, the competition will officially be titled the Irn-Bru Cup for the 2016-17 to 2018-19 seasons.
The deal coincides with a restructuring of the tournament, which has traditionally been contested by teams in the three divisions below the top-tier Premiership.
The 2016-17 season will see two teams each from the Welsh Premier League and Northern Ireland Football League enter the competition, along with four teams each from the Highland and Lowland Leagues – the two highest levels of non-league football in Scotland. In addition, each Premiership club’s U20 side will compete in the revamped tournament.
Rangers is the defending Challenge Cup champion, having beaten Peterhead 4-0 in last season’s final.