Hibs coach John Potter urges SFA to 'find an answer' to Scottish Cup conundrum

With lower-league football in limbo, fears are growing that this season's Scottish Cup may have to be scrapped.

Hibs assistant coach John Potter is keen for this season's Scottish Cup to be completed. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

Hibs lost out to capital rivals Hearts in the semi-final of last season’s tournament which was carried over to the beginning of the current term, and while the 2016 winners accept that the ongoing restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic make things difficult, assistant manager John Potter has called on the powers that be to thrash out a solution rather than deny clubs the opportunity to bank some silverware.

The Easter Road side had been due to enter the condensed competition, away to Queen of the South in the last weekend of January but with all football outwith the Premiership and Championship suspended, that was postponed. It had been hoped that lower leagues would be able to return to action by the middle of this month but following the latest discussion with the Scottish Government, the SFA announced that there is no scheduled resumption and that no further update is expected until at least March 1.

That would leave very little time to conclude the prestigious knockout tournament, leading to fears that it will be abandoned.

That should be the last resort, according to Potter.

“For us it’s an opportunity to try and win a cup and that’s why we are here. I think if you asked any of the players or staff here, we want it to be played. I know it will be difficult because of the current situation but hopefully they can find an answer and we can get the games played.”

That could mean carrying it over to next season and while Potter said he does not know if there is a “right or wrong answer, to be honest”, he does not want it cancelled.

“Hopefully we can get it played at some point, preferably this season, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I know that’s difficult because some of Scottish football is not going on at the moment but I would like to think we all want it played, because it’s a big, national tournament.”

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