Hibs manager Lee Johnson admits the Premier Sports Cup group stage format is one that leaves him perplexed.
The former Sunderland manager's first tenure in Scottish football has started in the roughest possible fashion, with the 2021 finalists heading out after a Group D loss to Falkirk and a 1-1 draw with Morton that was turned into a 3-0 defeat because Rocky Bushiri played while ineligible. Hibs join fellow Premiership clubs St Mirren and St Johnstone - whom they open their league campaign against next weekend - in heading out early. Johnson doesn't agree with the system.
He said: “It doesn’t make sense playing the League Cup this early. It almost degrades the competition itself. You’re talking about players playing competitive games every three days, when you can only make five subs, two-and-a-half weeks into pre-season. I’m new to this country in terms of football management and I need to abide by its rules.
