Extra-time scrapped in Carabao Cup
COVENTRY CITY wil no longer face the prospect of extra-time in the Carabao Cup, with matches level at 90 minutes moving straight to a penalty shoot-out, the English Football League has announced.
The EFL, who organise the League Cup, announced that the penalty shoot-out format would revert to the traditional alternating kicks, rather than the ABBA format which was trialled in 2017-18.
VAR will also be used in all League Cup fixtures played at Premier League stadia next term, the EFL said.
Seeding arrangements for rounds one and two of the competition will be removed, while round one will remain regionalised, with north and south sections.
Meanwhile, the EFL has started a debate on the future format of the Checkatrade Trophy, featuring League One and League Two clubs.
Changes were made to “assist the revitalisation of a flagging competition” in 2016-17 and those amendments – inviting 16 category one teams – will continue next season, before a formal proposal for season 2019-20 and beyond. FORMER Coventry City boss Ron Atkinson has expressed his delight at the club gaining promotion and hopes it marks a turning point for the Sky Blues.
The 79-year-old managed City in the mid-90s, having previously been in charge at clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa.
While at Old Trafford he had a freshfaced Mark Robins on his books and Big Ron has taken a keen interest in his former club and player over the years.
“I think it’s great that Coventry have got promoted,” he said.
“I’m well pleased, particularly for Mark Robins who was a young player with me at Man United.
“He’s a good, young manager who has done quite well wherever he has been so I am pleased for him.
“I am well pleased for the fans because they have supported the club in numbers as we saw with the great turnout at Wembley.
“As a club, when you look at the fanbase you think it’s a club well capable of playing, as they did for many years, in divisions higher.”
Asked if he thinks this season’s success, which climaxed in a thrilling play-off final victory over Exeter City, is the start of the club’s revival, he said: “You hope so and you hope they get some stability ie. with the stadium.
“I hope they don’t have all that fuss again about where they are going to be playing.
“I was never quite sure why they left Highfield Road. At the time I thought it was perfect for Coventry but circumstances dictate. “But if they can get that sorted and maybe even come to some agreement, great. “I know it’s going to be hard with the current owners but if they can come to some agreement and get a permanent base where they can just focus on the next few years and just the football it will be a help.” Speaking at the Coventry City Former Players’ Association tenth annual golf day at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club, Aktkinson was asked how important it will be for Robins to keep his best players. “It’s all important unless you can do the right business,” he said. “When I was at Sheffield Wednesday I sold Dalian Atkinson and bought three players in his wake; three players that virtually won us the league.
“The same when I was at Man U and I sold Ray Wilkins, bless his heart, to Milan and with the money bought Alan Brazil, Jesper Olsen and little Gordon (Strachan) and it made us a better team.
“So if they can do that and spend the money to make it a better team then fine. But if not, then keep their best players.”
As to whether they can keep hold of 28-goal Marc McNulty, Big Ron said reassuringly: “Yes, unless they get an offer they can’t refuse.
“Goals are the key because if you have got two good goal scorers, or even one, you have always got a chance.
“Goalscorers are very hard to come by and very hard to find but Coventry is a big enough club to keep hold of a player like that unless a club from the top comes along.”
As a club, when you look at the fanbase you think it’s a club well capable of playing, as they did for many years, in divisions higher.