Scottish League Cup: Thistle host Ayr, Rangers visit Forfar

Top flight side Partick Thistle have been given a home tie against Ayr United in the first round of the Scottish League Cup.

Second Division sides Forfar Athletic and Rangers will meet at Station Park.

Most ties will be played on Saturday, 3 August, with Thistle's tie taking place on the evening of 6 August due to their league match on 2 August.

More Scottish Premier League sides enter the competition in round two along with Dundee.

Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell and St Johnstone join the tournament in the third round, due to their participation in European competition.

St Mirren are the trophy holders after they beat Hearts 3-2 in last season's final.

Meanwhile, Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster says the organisation is in discussions with "a lot of different companies" about possible sponsorship of the league set-up and the League Cup.

The SPFL, a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League, have taken over the running of the League Cup, which was formerly operated by the SFL.

Scottish League Cup first round draw:

Falkirk v Clyde

East Fife v Morton

Arbroath v Montrose

Berwick Rangers v Cowdenbeath

Forfar Athletic v Rangers

Stranraer v Brechin City

Partick Thistle v Ayr United

Stirling Albion v Hamilton Academical

Dumbarton v Albion Rovers

East Stirlingshire v Dunfermline

Queen of the South v Annan Athletic

Peterhead v Alloa Athletic

Raith Rovers v Queen's Park

Elgin City v Livingston

Airdrieonians v Stenhousemuir