Hibs grouped with Morton and Falkirk

NEW Hibernian boss Lee Johnson’s first competitive action with the Easter Road side will be against Morton, Falkirk, Clyde and League Two new boys Bonnyrigg Rose in the group section of the Premier Sports Cup. Yesterday’s draw put Aberdeen in the same group as Raith Rovers — now managed by Ian Murray — who knocked them out of the tournament last term. Regional splits have been removed from the competition after six years, meaning Highland League Fraserburgh are in the same section as Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle. The eight group winners and the three best runners-up will join the five European contestants — defending champions Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell — in the last 16 at the end of August. Group A: Aberdeen, Raith Rovers, Peterhead, Dumbarton, Stirling Albion. Group B: Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Montrose, Stenhousemuir, Fraserburgh. Group C: Ross County, Dunfermline, Alloa, East Fife, Buckie Thistle. Group D: Hibernian, Morton, Falkirk, Clyde, Bonnyrigg Rose. Group E: St Mirren, Arbroath, Airdrieonians, Edinburgh City, Cowdenbeath. Group F: St Johnstone, Ayr Utd, Queen of the South, Annan Athletic, Elgin City. Group G: Livingston, Inverness CT, Cove Rangers, Kelty Hearts, Albion Rovers. Group H: Dundee, Hamilton, Queen’s Park, Forfar, Stranraer.

lThe first round of games take place on the weekend of July 9-10.