WEST LOTHIAN — Livingston was relegated from the Scottish Premiership and will compete in the Scottish Championship next season. The club has been drawn into a Premier Sports Cup group alongside Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir, Forfar Athletic, and Brechin City.

Livingston avoided being drawn against any Premiership sides in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup. The competition’s group stage is scheduled to run from July 11–12 to July 25–26.

Partick Thistle, Livingston’s group opponent, finished as runners-up to St Johnstone in the Scottish Championship last season. Thistle then lost to St Mirren in the Premiership Play-off final, ending their bid for promotion.

Stenhousemuir earned promotion to the Scottish Championship for the first time in their history after defeating Alloa Athletic in a play-off final. The club had finished second in League 1 behind Inverness Caledonian Thistle and will enter the new season seeking a new manager after Gary Naysmith departed to take charge of Ayr United.

Forfar Athletic, who finished fourth in League 2, will be managed by Jim Weir during the Premier Sports Cup group stage. Brechin City, under manager Andy Kirk, qualified for the group after finishing as runners-up in the Highland League.

Livingston will also have a new permanent manager next season. Scott Arfield, who served as interim manager following Marvin Bartley’s resignation, will not be considered for the full-time role. The club ended last season in second place in their Premier Sports Cup group behind Kilmarnock but advanced as one of the best second-placed teams before being eliminated by Hibernian in the second round.

The draw placed Livingston in Group G of the Premier Sports Cup, which features one club each from the Championship, League 1, League 2, and the Highland League. Each team will play one home and one away match during the group stage, with the group winners and three best runners-up advancing to the knockout phase.