EFL Trophy

[Exile on Spencer St]

BBC Radio Lancashire - Sport, 13/06/2016
Hope this link works. It starts about 22 minutes in. Dave Burgess on why Stanley voted against the 'trial'.

[Chrisr]

Done, it was on twitter with a link to the audioboom, I don't agree much with our MD says But he has spoken sense on this one, That is not hard I know. However the small crowds we get will be even less over the season. Even Andy Holt says there is no financial gain for the clubs until at least the quarter finals. It will kill a lot of small league clubs as people will simply get out of the habit of going.

[Chewbacca]

The radio Lancashire interviewer can't remember Stanley playing in the FLT when in the conference then?

Holt doesn't want it as "it doesn't feel right" and 4 League 2 teams voted against it, well 3 or 4 from what Holt said. Maybe better staying quiet, it is a trial, so just let it run its course I reckon. If Stanley win it the prize money has doubled, and the better development squad players will be out on loan, so I don't think it becomes a lot harder to win.

[accybeme]

Sorry don’t agree, this so called EFL trophy trial is just a feeler for the full introduction of upper league teams under 21s squads to enter the football league, the full implications of just a trial are the first steps on a journey to reality, the upper league clubs would like to see their under 21s infiltrating the football league which would inevitably result in some lower league clubs relegated to non-league status, how can this be good for clubs like ours

[Exile on Spencer St]

Originally Posted by st06nc2

Pompey prob voted for it

Apparently not. They are a fan-owned club after all.

[fatgaz182]

EFL Trophy: Format confirmed for 2016/17

The EFL has confirmed the format of the EFL Trophy 2016/17 which, for the first time, will include 16 invited teams from clubs with Category One Academies.
A total of 64 clubs will compete in the competition beginning with 16 groups of four teams, each of which will include at least one club from each of Leagues One and Two, along with one invited team. The top two sides in each group will then go into a knockout stage that will culminate in a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on April 2.

The new look competition will also have an enhanced prize fund with an expected £1.95m being up for grabs, including £10,000 per win and £5,000 per draw during the Group Stage and £100,000 for the eventual winner.

The first 16 clubs with Category One Academies that have been invited to take part in the EFL Trophy 2016/17 are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.

EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: "The new format is intended to rejuvenate this competition and also assist the development of the very best young players in English football. This will help us deliver more and better home grown players which will deliver benefits to the national team and domestic league football at all levels.

"I believe this is the right time to pilot these changes to the EFL Trophy, which we will review at the end of the 2016/17 season following discussions with our clubs and having consulted with the other football bodies and supporter organisations."

A Premier League spokesman said: "The overriding aim of the Elite Player Performance Plan across the Premier League and English Football League is to produce more and better home grown players capable of performing at first team and international levels.

"Participation for a selection of Premier League clubs' teams to take part in the EFL Trophy is an important part of a range developments that both we and the EFL believe will help young, talented players progress physically and mentally on top of the technical aspect of their game developed in the Academy system.

"It is a progressive move by both leagues; one that we welcome."

Competition format

Clubs:

- 48 clubs from League One & Two.

- 16 invited Category One Academy teams.

Eligibility Criteria:

- EFL Clubs – a minimum of 5 ‘First Team’ players in the starting 11 as defined under the competition’s existing rules.

- Invited Clubs – 6 of the starting 11 to be U21 (as at June 30).

Group Stage:

- 16 groups of 4 teams organised on a regionalised basis.

- Groups to include one invited club and at least one club from each of Leagues One & Two.

- Clubs to play each other once, either home or away. Invited clubs will play one home game at the club’s first team stadium.

- Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.

- The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage.

Knockout Stage:

- Round 2 (32 teams) will remain regionalised with each group winner being drawn at home to a second placed team from a different qualifying group.

- Round 3 (16 teams) and Round 4 (8 teams) will be ‘free’ draws.

- Semi-finals (4 teams) will be a 'free’ draw and will consist of single ties played at the stadium of the club drawn first in each tie.

- If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties. The EFL will confirm arrangements for the Semi-Finals and Final in due course following further consultation.

Dates:

- Group Stage
- w/c 29th August 2016
- w/c 3rd October 2016
- w/c 7th November 2016

- Round 2 - w/c 5th December 2016
- Round 3 - w/c 9th January 2017
- Round 4 - w/c 23rd January 2017
- Semi- Final - w/c 20th February 2017
- Final - 2nd April 2017 (Wembley Stadium)

The date of the draw for the group stage will be announced in due course.

Match Proceeds:

After deduction of match expenses, all proceeds will be split:
- 45% Home Club
- 45% Away Club
- 10% to the pool account

Invited clubs will donate all or some of their share of gate receipts to a fund that will be shared equally by League One and Two clubs.

Group Stage - Invited Clubs will donate their 45% share to the fund.
Knockout Stage - Invited Clubs will retain 25% of their share and donate 20% to the fund.
Semi-finals & Final - Invited Clubs will retain 30% of their share and donate 15% to the fund.

Read more at EFL Trophy: Format confirmed for 2016/17

[AccyMad]

£20 admission for first round of this?? Sorry, but don't think I'll be there for that one

[cashman]

Not a hope in hell and its £15 fer me.

[maccawozzagod]

I think we're mixing 2 cups together here

I might be wrong but there's an EFL Cup and an EFL Trophy. The Bradford game at £20 is the old League Cup

[Lemur]

fat gaz is on about the old johnstone paint pot

[cashman]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

I think we're mixing 2 cups together here

I might be wrong but there's an EFL Cup and an EFL Trophy. The Bradford game at £20 is the old League Cup

I think yer right rob just call me knobhead.

[andyd]

Apparantly Manchester United have declined the invitation to join this new format let,s hope the other 15 invited teams do the same for the long term good of the game in this country.

[Exile on Spencer St]

Perhaps the Man Utd Academy starlets are frightened of playing a real game and getting their knees muddy?
So will they invite Burnley Academy?

[AccyMad]

Yeah, you're right Macca - I was thinking it was the first round of the old paint pot trophy, wish one of 'em would get a sponsor - might be easier to separate them

[DAV007]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

£20 admission for first round of this?? Sorry, but don't think I'll be there for that one

agree.

£10 is to much for the tinpot trophy