English teams now included in expanded Irn-Bru Cup
The Irn-Bru Cup will now comprise contestants from all corners of the UK and Ireland after the Scottish Professional Football League invited two English teams to take part.
UEFA bosses have given the green light for Sutton United and Boreham Wood - the highest-ranked Vanarama National League sides last season still playing non-league - to enter the tournament.
The SPFL has already opened up the competition to teams from Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as colt sides from the Ladbrokes Premiership.
With the top four teams from the Highland League - as well as the best four Lowland League finishers - also taking part it means south Londoners Sutton could face a potential 1,200-mile round trip should they land Aberdeenshire minnows Fraserburgh when they enter at the second-round stage.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "The IRN-BRU Cup remains an innovative and evolving competition, and we are pleased to now extend a warm welcome to the National League and their representatives, Sutton United and Boreham Wood.
"We look forward to developing a positive relationship with our counterparts in England, just as we have with representatives from the leagues of Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland over the last two years.''
Michael Tattersall, Vanarama National League chief executive, added: "We were pleased to accept the SPFL's invitation to participate in next year's competition.
"We believe our two clubs will benefit from playing in an international competition and we look forward to establishing new relationships with the other leagues involved.''
This year's entrants from the Republic of Ireland are Bohemians and Bray Wanderers, while Crusaders and Coleraine will represent Northern Ireland and The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads fly the flag for Wales. They, along with the English duo, also enter at the second round.
The draw for the first round will take place on June 26