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EFL Trophy: League One and League Two clubs to vote on scrapping competition

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments101

Coventry
Coventry City defeated Oxford United at Wembley in the 2017 EFL Trophy final

League One and League Two clubs will be given the option of scrapping the EFL Trophy when they meet in May.

In a one-season trial, 16 Premier League and Championship under-21 sides were added to this term's competition, which was traditionally for teams from the bottom two divisions.

The decision was met with fan boycotts of matches.

Clubs will vote on keeping the academy teams, reverting to the previous format or ending the competition entirely.

Some clubs have been fined this season for fielding "weakened teams", while Bradford changed their goalkeeper after three minutes to comply with the selection rules and Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth selected himself to play in a group match against Northampton.

At a meeting between League One and League Two clubs on Tuesday, English Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey discussed concerns around the "full-strength" policy.

What are the current rules?

Coventry City
Coventry were not alone in getting small crowds for the early rounds, but took in excess of 43,000 fans to the final at Wembley

Current competition rules state EFL teams have to field five players who started the previous game, or go on to start the following game, or five who had made the most appearances during the current season.

Sides that did not put out "full-strength" teams were liable to a fine of £5,000 for each group match by the EFL, with Luton and Portsmouth both breaching the rule in their opening three games of the competition and 10 other sides fined.

The rules are different for the academy sides, with six of the starting XI having to be aged under 21.

What is the EFL proposing?

Colin Doyle & Rouven Sattelmaier
Bradford replaced goalkeeper Colin Doyle with Rouven Sattelmaier three minutes into their EFL Trophy win over Bury

On Tuesday, Harvey proposed a relaxation of the rules to four first-team players per match, with goalkeepers not included, and a change regarding those players who qualify as a "first-team player".

Under the proposals, these would be any player who met the same full-strength criteria as are currently in place, was on loan from a Premier League club or one with a Category One academy, or had made 40 first-team appearances.

Other proposals include a "significant" increase in prize money, regionalisation until the quarter-final stage, and flexibility of fixture dates to allow teams to schedule games outside of international weeks.

What has the EFL said?

Harvey said following the meeting: "We committed at the outset of this season's competition to conduct a full and comprehensive review of the competition and, importantly, give our clubs the ability to ensure they make the key decisions regarding where we take the competition in 2017-18 and beyond.

"After asking clubs in advance for some initial thoughts on the competition, Tuesday was the next stage of the process and I'm delighted we were able to have such a full and frank exchange of views that will now assist the executive in refining a final proposal that our clubs will now vote on."

Comments

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101 comments

  • Comment posted by Magpie87, at 18:38 11 Apr 2017

    If the prize money reaches a level that makes it relevant to the League 1 and League 2 clubs then obviously they will take it seriously and play good squads. If League 1 and League 2 clubs are effectively having to take a loss to subsidise Premier League youth development then scrap the whole competition, as that is absurd.

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 19:14 11 Apr 2017

    This gives Level 3 and 4 clubs a chance of silverwear and a trip to wembley that they probably wouldnt otherwise get.

    Put it back to how it was removing the academy teams

  • Comment posted by in theknow, at 20:25 11 Apr 2017

    The old format worked
    Still would - some huge gates at these finals over the years
    Until some clown - straight out of University at the FA - invited premier league 2nd teams - so disrepectuful

  • Comment posted by User0374653698, at 18:48 11 Apr 2017

    revert back to previous format

  • Comment posted by SW1701, at 18:59 11 Apr 2017

    Who wants to see your local team play a bigger clubs U23s? I certainly didnt

  • Comment posted by User0671185278, at 19:12 11 Apr 2017

    Keep the previous format.
    We already see in both League and Fa cups how most Premier teams treat these.
    If they want the under 23s some competition then put in your own teams.
    In other words Butt out.

  • Comment posted by obrierylane, at 18:57 11 Apr 2017

    The EFL need to ask what the Supporters want as well ! I'd wager not many, if any at all ,would have wanted the Championship and Prem reserves playing in this competition. The minute these clubs were 'Forced' into the Competition it started on a slippery slope.
    The Freight Rover, Sherpa Van, Leyland Daf,Autoglass Trophy etc etc has been a great Tournament for the lower league clubs.

  • Comment posted by another disappointed England fan, at 19:33 11 Apr 2017

    It was fine before the inclusion of under 23 teams either go back to that or scrap the whole thing

  • Comment posted by Diane, at 19:45 11 Apr 2017

    Again it becomes all about the Premier League, this is the lower league clubs chance to shine. It needs a complete over haul and bring in Vanarma clubs to make it better. Would swap Coventry win for staying I. League 1. Harvey just get over yourself

  • Comment posted by hughesy80, at 20:22 11 Apr 2017

    Scrap the academy sides entering as should just be a comp for lower league clubs and give the winner a bye to the FA Cup 3rd round the following season.

  • Comment posted by llcoolc157, at 18:40 11 Apr 2017

    Another setback for David Moyes. He was targeting the competition as part of his 3 year plan...

  • Comment posted by pdh, at 19:34 11 Apr 2017

    I think someone needs to ask the question of Harvey, why is he so desperate for this to continue in this format in the face of almost total rejection from supporters? Average attendances were down 50% from an already low benchmark. What with this and his 'Whole Game Solution' plan which was basically a Premier League wishlist, you really have to start to question Harvey's motivation?

  • Comment posted by obrierylane, at 19:03 11 Apr 2017

    @snookerboy80 ,Try telling that to the 42000 Coventry Supporters who went to Wembley,or to the Bristol City Fans who watched their team do the 'Double' last season.
    This is a great Competition, it just needs managing better and not invite these Prem or Championship Clubs, who really couldn't care less.

  • Comment posted by steve clark, at 22:08 11 Apr 2017

    This competition has been going for over 30 years and the final attracted a crowd of 73,000;two good reasons why it should be retained and given back to the league one and two clubs. More to the point the league clubs should be considering the removal of Shaun Harvey before he fixing things that aren't broken any more

  • Comment posted by Y0U, at 19:02 11 Apr 2017

    Get rid of the trophy, have the League Cup open to clubs of Championship to League Two with no selection rules. Gives lower league teams chance to win something a bit more worth it, frees up Premier League from potential fixture congestion.

    No one wants to see an U23 side play their first team though.

  • Comment posted by J , at 22:45 11 Apr 2017

    @53. steve clark

    "This competition has been going for over 30 years and the final attracted a crowd of 73,000;two good reasons why it should be retained and given back to the league one and two clubs. More to the point the league clubs should be considering the removal of Shaun Harvey before he fixing things that aren't broken any more"

    ------

    Great post..nail on the head.

    ~LXV

  • Comment posted by Sams Town, at 22:43 11 Apr 2017

    Ask Barnsley fans

    They won it last season........it kickstarted their promotion push from nowhere

    They went back again to Wembley a few months later to win the play off final.

    ...and they are now just finishing a very good season in the Championship....with potential to get even better.

    Leave as it was.....smaller Clubs deserve a chance of a final.

  • Comment posted by stephen, at 07:16 12 Apr 2017

    November 8
    The Hawthorns West Brom capacity 37,000
    West Brom O Gillingham 2
    Attendance 274

    Must cost more to put the floodlights on !

  • Comment posted by pdh, at 19:02 11 Apr 2017

    Why are the FL trying to fix FA/Premier League created problems? It's not down to Lg1 and 2 teams to fill the developmental void that was created when the academy system and EPPP was forced on them. Surely Harvey's time would be better spent addressing FL clubs concerns and not pandering to the Premier League all the time?

  • Comment posted by Stephen Taylor, at 22:36 11 Apr 2017

    Just go back to the previous format. Common Sense.

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