The English Football League have confirmed that Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers will not be taking part in the Worthington Cup this season.
Football League chairman Keith Harris floated the concept in public earlier today but has since admitted that he has not yet even spoken to either of the Scottish clubs and that it is simply a "fledgling idea".
While he insists the idea is still worthy of consideration, possibly for 2002-2003, the League have insisted that there are still "several huge obstacles" to overcome.
A League statement said: "Celtic and Rangers will not compete in this season's Worthington Cup. The first round draw has already been made so the competition is, to all intents and purposes, underway.
"There have been no discussions with any other parties on this subject and it is purely a fledgling idea at this stage.
"There are several huge obstacles to overcome in order for it to ever become reality.
"It is not only addressing questions about the Worthington Cup but also the nature of cross-border competition, which is clearly a matter for not only the Football League but also UEFA.
"What is absolutely certain is that the competition's place in the UEFA Cup is far more important than the entry of Celtic or Rangers."
For them to take part in the Worthington Cup, UEFA would have to give the go-ahead to a cross-border competition, while there is a huge question-mark as to whether the winners would still be guaranteed a place in the UEFA Cup.
The Football Association and Scottish Football Association would also have to back the idea, as would English clubs, while Rangers and Celtic, who already compete in the CIS Cup in Scotland, would further have to agree.
Harris was therefore rather jumping the gun in discussing the issue with the Mirror, leading to a report that the two clubs would be invited to take part in the Worthington Cup this season.
He had revealed: "We are now looking into exactly what it would require to invite Rangers and Celtic into the competition. We shall be discussing it with all the interested parties." PA