The Shropshire Senior Cup, one of football’s oldest knockout competitions, is set for a dramatic revamp next season.

Shropshire Football Association chiefs – including recently appointed chief executive Roy Waterfield – are proposing a return to a four team tournament for 2011-12.

Over the last two seasons Shropshire’s ‘big two’ – Shrewsbury Town and AFC Telford United – have contested a straight final as the only two teams involved.

But plans are afoot for them to be supplemented by Evo Stik League division one south outfit Market Drayton and reigning Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints, based in Oswestry, next term.

“We have written to Shrewsbury Town, AFC Telford United, Market Drayton Town and The New Saints to invite them into the competition for the 2011-12 season,” said Shropshire FA spokesman Neil Sambrook.

“The letters were sent out on Monday and we are waiting responses. It was felt trying to return to a four-team competition would benefit the tournament.”

Should they accept, it would be the first time The New Saints – who Sambrook confirmed would have no clearance issues from the Welsh FA – have competed in the tournament.

And it would mark a welcome return for Drayton who have been excluded from the competition over the last two years – despite playing at step four in the non-League pyramid.

Under the plans, the competition would return to its traditional pre-season date with the semi-finals played in the week commencing July 16 with the final scheduled for Monday, July 25.

In another interesting twist, the winner of next season’s second tier Shropshire Challenge Cup – which includes teams such as Bridgnorth, Ellesmere Rangers, Shifnal and Shawbury – will be invited into the 2012-13 Senior Cup to make it a five-team event.

Shrewsbury are the holders of the trophy having defeated Telford 2-1 in the 2009-10 final at the New Bucks Head.

This season’s final has yet to be scheduled. And with last month’s cold spell causing a fixture backlog and Shropshire’s big two pushing for promotion, officials are facing a headache to find a spare date.