The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh fight to keep a competition alive
Posh have launched a passionate defence of their decision to vote in favour of changes to the Football League Trophy competition - a decision one prominent fan labelled ‘disgusting’. Most contentiously, Premier League Under 21 or Academy sides havebeeninvitedtotake part in a competition that was originally devised to give lower division clubs a chance of winning a trophy in a Wembley final.
Posh did just that in 2014, buttheywillhavetobattlepast 63 other teams rather than 47 to be successful in next season’s competition. The new formatisbeingtrialledfor just one season with the Premier League putting in £1 million in prize money to take the total prize potupto£1.95million
Fixture congestion, the potential of ‘dead’ games and the fear that Premier League clubs are testing the water ahead of putting ‘B ‘ teams into the Football League in the future, are other criticisms to bedelivered byPoshfansafter a decision reached byFootball League clubs at their annual general meeting in Portugal last week.
But Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who revealed his club ‘only’ made £ 375,000 when lifting the trophy two years ago, said: “There’s been a mass overreaction. There will never be PremierLeagueBteamsinthe FootballLeagueinmyopinion.
“It’s alsonotaboutthemoney. We’d probably lose money if we went out at the group stage, butit’s goodfortheplaying squad to have three extra games.
“The winners will probably make money. We won £375k when we won it, but it all wenttoplayers as bonuses. That didn’t matter as it was a superb achievement worth more than money as we and our fans enjoyed a great day out at Wembley.
“We took 20,000 fans who had a brilliant experience. I wasproudtoseeourteamwin a final at Wembley.
“We voted in favour of trying a new initiative to reinvigorate a competition I want to see stick around for a lot longer.
“Certainly the word ‘disgusting’ is a strong one to use for a one-year trial of a dying competition that has lost its sponsor.
“If we have got it wrong I will be the first to hold my hands up.”
ThechairmanofthePeterborough Independent SupportersAssociation(PISA) Adi Mowlesisagainstthechanges.
Mowles, speaking as a fan rather than a supporters’ group chairman, said: “It’s furtherproofthatthePremier League feel they can do what they want to who they want, when they want.
“TheFootball Leagueclubs are clearly too frightened to stand up to them.
“Money was dangled and they bit.
“However, many fans will nowrefuseto go to a matchinvolving the ‘Premier’ sides so a barely popular competition has now become one that is even less well thought of. I am franklydisgustedPoshwerein favour of the changes.”
The chance for lower division fans to see Premier League players of the present and the future in a competitive match.
Current Premier Under 21 League rules allow for three over-age players to be involved.
The chance for lower division fans to watch their team at a Premier League ground.
With three group matches guaranteed, there will be an increased chance of local derby fixtures which will increase interest and therefore attendances.
Young Premier League players need the experience of playing in matches that will be far more competitive than Under 21 games.
More interest from TV companies who are always keen to broadcast star young players attached to the biggest clubs.
More prize money for cash -strapped Football League clubs. Cash prizes will be awarded for each victory in the competition.