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Update: Checkatrade Trophy

12th April

An update on the future of the competition

Club chair Julian Tagg, and Trust chair Martin Weiler attended yesterday's EFL meeting of League 1 and 2 Clubs at Walsall FC to discuss the future of the Checkatrade Trophy.

No decisions were taken at the meeting. Following a full discussion a formal choice of options will be put to Clubs to vote on by 9 May.

Notes:
  1. Exeter City Supporters Trust ran a survey on the future of the competition: 12.10% voted for a continuation of invitations to Category 1 Clubs; 78.63% to revert to a trophy just for League 1 and 2 Clubs and 9.27% to scrap the competition. 248 votes were cast.

  2. EFL have issued the following statement:

LEAGUE ONE AND TWO CLUBS MEET TO DISCUSS COMPETITION FUTURE

EFL Clubs from League One and Two have met to formally discuss the future direction of the Checkatrade Trophy for the next two seasons.

The EFL Board, which has the responsibility for setting the rules of the competition, had previously indicated that clubs would be given the opportunity to decide on the format and associated rules for the 2017/18 season.

The purpose of today’s meeting was to assist the EFL in shaping a formal proposal for Clubs to have a final vote on in May.

During the meeting EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey reiterated the previously stated position that the introduction of B Teams to League competition is in no way connected to this debate or the League’s wider agenda.  Clubs reiterated their support for this position.  EFL Article 3.3 provides that no new shares may be issued or allotted without the prior approval of 90% of member clubs. 

He then went on to present a number of options and considerations for the members to deliberate. These included:
  • Addressing the concerns around the full-strength team policy by improving the eligibility criteria for EFL teams.  Goalkeepers will not count towards the full-strength quota and only four qualifying outfield players will need to be named on team sheets.  A qualifying outfield player would be considered as any player who meets the same full strength criteria as 2016/17, is on loan from a Premier League or Category 1 club or has made 40 first team appearances (if this criteria was applied in 2016/17 only two fines would have been levied);
  • Significant increase in prize money;
  • Regionalisation until the quarter-final stage (improved from 2nd Round in 2016/17) to minimise travel for clubs and fans;
  • Flexibility of fixture dates to allow teams to schedule games outside of international weeks.
As a result of the discussion and subsequent debate, Clubs will now be asked to vote on the following:
  • A revised format including 16 invited teams;
  • A return to the previous 48-team competition, exclusive to League One and Two;
  • Remove the competition from the fixture calendar.
EFL Shaun Harvey said: “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, today 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.”
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