Walsall Supporters Trust slam EFL Trophy stance
The Walsall Supporters Trust has hit out at the club's decision to vote in favour of changes to the Football League Trophy and asked them to reverse their decision.
The Saddlers have backed a new pilot format for the competition, formerly known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, which will see Premier League sides enter under-21 teams next season.
In what will be a one-season trial, 16 category one academy teams from the top flight will join the competition which will take on a new group stage format.
The proposal was put forward to give youth players at top flight clubs the opportunity of more playing time. It has also seen the Premier League inject an extra £1m in prize money.
But the decision has infuriated football fans with the competition particularly close to the hearts of Saddlers.
Last year they saw their team make the final and in doing so end the club's 127-year wait to play at Wembley. And now the supporters trust has added it's voice to the growing discontent.
A statement from chairman Neil Ravenscroft read: "Last weekend, during all of the press coverage of the Euros and trouble in France, the Football League announced plans to change the format of the Trophy.
"One of the main changes is to include academy and under 21 teams from Premier League.
"The involvement of such teams was suggested as an alternative to the inclusion of "B" Teams in The Football League, but was equally badly received.
"We are now extremely disappointed to find that Walsall Football Club was one of the clubs which voted in favour of a trial of the proposals.
"It'ssomething which the trust believes would vastly reduce the chances of lower league teams reaching Wembley, as we ourselves did last season, for the first time in our history.
"It seems that the decision has been motivated purely by the desire to generate more income via television rights.
"He has taken no account of the feelings of fans, who will feel that their opinions and their support for their club has been devalued once again.
"We would therefore ask the club reconsider their support for this proposal, which seems to have no backing from fans, who are the backbone of any lower league team."