Why Hibs have good reason not to complain too loudly if the Scottish Cup is cancelled this season

Someone who talks about the Scottish Cup with the reverence befitting a competition of such age and prestige, Jack Ross admits he has all but given up hope of being able to compete for the oldest national trophy in football this season.
Jack Ross enjoys the Scottish Cup but admits there could be knock-on benefits for Hibs if this season's competition cannot be completed. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS GroupJack Ross enjoys the Scottish Cup but admits there could be knock-on benefits for Hibs if this season's competition cannot be completed. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group
Jack Ross enjoys the Scottish Cup but admits there could be knock-on benefits for Hibs if this season's competition cannot be completed. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group

But, with the possibility that his side could be the major beneficiaries of any abandonment, he has been offered some solace.

The biggest knockout tournament has been under threat since the lower leagues were placed in an ongoing period of stasis. With second and third round matches still outstanding, the chances of being able to press ahead and complete the contest this term have been decreasing with every passing week.

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Dates set aside for cup ties have come and gone and following the news earlier this week that Hibs’ postponed Premiership fixture against Ross County has been rescheduled for March 13, the proposed quarter-finals weekend, the Hibs gaffer says the signs are bleak.

“I have certainly not had any information when or if the competition will be played but when we received confirmation of that date for the rescheduled match that was one of the first things that came into my head,” said Ross.

“I know that there has been conjecture and talk that they might try to cram a number of rounds into a two-week period but that is now another weekend that can’t be used for that. So, if you read between the lines, it doesn’t look that promising.

“With every passing week it is becoming more and more difficult, which is a shame. The traditionalist in me would always want it played but being pragmatic and realistic I am probably starting to lose hope of that. I just don’t see how it can be fulfilled. There may be people at the SFA who have a plan in place but I’m certainly not aware of what that might be.”

The lure of winning such a famous piece of silverware remains a lure but Ross is aware of the enticing consolation prize on offer to Hibs should that competition not be fulfilled.

As it stands the Scottish Cup winners earn a spot in the Europa league play-offs. With that comes a very attractive safety net, with the side’s who lose out at that stage dropping into the group phase of the new Conference League, guaranteeing them European football until at least December.

But that route into Europe will switch to the Premiership’s third-place finishers if the trophy is won by a team finishing first or second in the league or if the competition does not reach a conclusion.

At the moment Hibs occupy that berth, sitting four points ahead of rivals Aberdeen, with a game in hand and a better goal difference. Hoping to hold onto that spot as they see out the ten remaining games of their league season, Ross, acknowledged that many of his peers would be more disappointed that he would if the SFA were to draw a line under this term’s cup competition.

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“I accept that your opinion on the cup being played this year may be influenced somewhat by your position in the league so I would imagine that there are other clubs who are not competing where we are in the league at the moment who would love the cup to be played because of what is at stake and I get that.

“If we were to try to fit the cup games into a couple of weeks I don’t think I would ever complain about the number of fixtures because you can always cope with that but I suppose I would question whether it would devalue the competition if it is not played within the usual format.

“I know we are operating in strange times and behind closed doors but despite that, with the exception of last season’s semi finals and final of the Scottish Cup being played this season, there has been an element of normality about the whole structure and if we mess with the usual format, I would imagine that the Scottish Cup would lose some of its usual romance and magic, albeit the prize remains the same.

“I never thought I would ever get to a stage where I am now whereby I think it would be difficult to play it. I was always one who would push as much as I could for it to be played.”

The added promise of entering the Europa League play-offs rather than the second qualifying round of the Conference League, which is the reward currently on offer for the club finishing third, cannot be ignored but Ross says it should also not be allowed to minimise the achievement of Hibs finishing that high up the table for the first time in 16 years.

“I have spoken often about the challenges we set ourselves this year and we have worked hard to achieve them but that side of it is something we have not really talked about because the significance of it has only recently come to light, that potential if we finish third.

“The players are probably becoming more and more aware of it. But, I still haven’t thought too far beyond trying to finish in a position that the club has not finished in for a long, long time.

“The knock-on benefits of that will be something I will think about more if we manage to do it. Finishing third, in isolation, would be a big deal for me. On its own merits it would be a big thing but, considering all the additional benefits, we probably would then sit back and think, ‘wow’.”

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