Shaun Harvey: Controversial Checkatrade Trophy will bring a bonus

A new format, which has seen the introduction of a group stage and the inclusion of 16 academy teams from the Premier League and Championship, has been met with widespread criticism and several of this week's opening fixtures will take place against the backdrop of fan protests.

Harvey admits the past few months have been something of a "challenge" but believes a justification for the changes, which were voted for by a majority of League One and League Two clubs, can be found in significantly increased prize money, with the total put now standing at just short of £2million, up from less than £500,000 last season "In terms of the clubs which competed last year, 29 of them earned less than £10,000 - that is the prize money for winning just one game in the group stages this time around," said Harvey.

"From a financial perspective, not only as a result of playing additional games but also because of the increase in prize money, there is a real opportunity for our clubs to make a real contribution to their financial position."

Harvey and the EFL's main argument, from day one, was that the competition needed to change or most probably face extinction. A commonly held view, under the previous format, was that if you didn't make the final it was best to be knocked out in the first round.

The new format, meanwhile, has seen the adoption of several new rules including penalty shoot-outs at the end of any drawn group games, with the winner will be awarded a bonus point. There can be no escaping the fact however that the build-up has been fraught, with a number of big names clubs, all of whom expected to participate when the original vote on changes took place, rejecting the chance to take part. Even Villa and Newcastle, both in the Championship, turned down the opportunity to field teams.

Harvey blamed the rejections on "scheduling issues" but admitted they were "very disappointing".

He was less clear on the exact mechanics of a "regionalised" draw which left Walsall, who famously reached the final of the competition under its previous guise in 2015 and voted in favour of the changes, surprised to find themselves in a group with Leicester City's under-23s rather than Wolves or Albion, the latter of whom face a trip to Millwall tomorrow.

Chief concern among supporters, of course, is that the Trophy is being used as a vehicle to introduce academy teams, or B teams, into the lower divisions. On this subject Harvey was far more forthright, insisting fans have nothing to worry about. "Clubs are more than well aware of the views of their fans with regard to B teams and for once the majority if clubs and their fans are in complete harmony," he explained, pointing to new legislation, introduced last year, which means any future vote on the introduction of new teams into the league would need the backing of 90 per cent of clubs.

He went on: "Clubs are aware and we are aware there is a very significant noise against B teams and it is not an agenda we are looking to promote. That is why the clubs themselves are the ones who make the decision and not the league."

Clubs will also decide on the future of the new format following its pilot year. The next few months should prove interesting, if nothing else.