Premier League and National League ‘in talks over new cup competition’… just days after controversial decision to scrap FA Cup replays
- The controversial decision to abandon FA Cup replays was announced last week.
- Discussions have reportedly taken place for the introduction of a new cup competition.
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The Premier League and National League are reportedly in talks over the creation of a new cup.
It was announced last week that FA Cup replays would be scrapped from the first round starting next season, due to concerns over match congestion.
The decision was condemned by a number of EFL clubs and supporters, but Mail Sport revealed it was surprisingly supported by the National League.
The reason behind this may have become clearer, as said Athleticismdiscussions have taken place for the top 16 teams in the fifth tier to play against 16 under-21 teams from the Premier League.
It is understood that the proposed competition would feature four groups of eight teams, four from each division, and that National League teams would play Premier League Under-21 teams at home.
The decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards was announced last week.
It has been reported that the National League is in talks with the Premier League over the creation of a new cup.
National League clubs would not play each other and would receive all gate receipts and half of the prize money, with the other half set aside to be distributed among the 56 teams not competing in the League competition national, National League North and National League South.
The competition is expected to be heavily subsidized by the Premier League if it gets the green light.
The groups would be determined on a regional basis, although that likely won’t be the case once the round of 16 arrives. The final format of the competition still needs to be agreed.
The Athletic report states that the idea for the competition is based on the existing EFL Trophy, which has been in place since its inception in 1981.
These include 64 clubs, 48 from League One and League Two, as well as 16 under-21 teams from the Premier League and Championship with ‘category one’ academies.
The final is held at Wembley every year, and that could also be the case with the proposed new cup competition.
It had been anticipated that the existing EFL Trophy would potentially be expanded, with all 20 Premier League clubs invited and more group matches in place, but this now appears unlikely.
But the new competition may only anger fans further as it is set to begin shortly before Christmas, in a period which will be freed up by the scrapping of FA Cup replays.
The decision to scrap FA Cup replays has proven hugely controversial, with EFL clubs insisting they were not consulted by the FA or their own league before the announcement was made done.
The proposed new cup competition would be based on the existing EFL Trophy won by Peterborough earlier this month.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) raised concerns over the football calendar on Friday but a new cup could now be introduced.
Even with their withdrawal, Premier League clubs will face more chaos next season after the proposed schedule was released earlier this week.
As it stands, there are currently multiple clashes between European and domestic matches following the expansion of the Champions League, while the mid-season break has been scrapped.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters raised concerns over the football calendar at the 48th European Leagues General Assembly press conference in London on Friday, saying the calendar is currently at a “point critical” and that “something has to give”.
However, if the new cup competition between National League and Premier League Under-21 teams goes ahead, the schedule will only become even busier.
