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During the Football League’s annual conference, their members voted in favour of including Premier League (EPL) U21 sides into the Football League Trophy (formerly Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) for a trial next season, which would mean that the competition – usually reserved for clubs within League One and Two – will now be extending so as to include 16 Category One academies, which will increase the tournament to 64 teams, with the introduction of regional group stages before the knockout rounds.
Supporters of the lower leagues have vented their disapproval at the trial, with many saying they will boycott games. The frustration felt by fans comes from the belief that the Football League has given into the financial power of the Premier League, something that’s not far away from the truth. The prize fund being substantially increased by £1million (plus the introduction of cash bonuses for each win), it is understandable why fans feel this way.
For some years now, clubs across the top tier of English Football have called for more “competitive” fixtures for their academy players. This has seen the old reserve league format being replaced by the current U21 development sides. Yet, the change still hasn’t proved enough and the notion of a B team system being introduced into the lower leagues has periodically been suggested.
Before the announcement of the inclusion of academy teams into the Football League Trophy, a radical change had been proposed to the league structure. By the 2019/20 season, they do want to implement a new league into the current system, seeing three football leagues with 20 teams featuring in each. Increasing the professional teams to 100 would result in a number of positives for the game as a whole according to Shaun Harvey, the Chief Executive of the Football League, including more games on the weekdays, less fixture congestion and an increase in revenues for clubs.
Under these proposals, there is space for as much as 8 new clubs within the lower league structure. Harvey has suggested that the logical move would be to promote these clubs from the National League if they agree. However, he has also suggested that both Rangers and Celtic could be included, thereby realising their dream of playing in England. He has quickly denied that Premier B teams could make up the team shortfalls, but in light of the changes to the Football League Trophy, does this denial really mean B teams won’t appear in the lower leagues?
Although the lower league members have always rejected the inclusion of B teams within their leagues, they have now allowed them into their cup competition with the incentive of an increased prize fund, which is but a mere way of luring the smaller clubs to agree upon the latest proposals – the proposals that’ll have major benefits for the Premier League. The change to increase weekend matches would allow the week nights to be used for FA ties, therefore releasing more dates for Premier League games. Eventually, it could possibly result in a winter break, again benefitting thePL. Giving the top clubs a short break in the winter could improve their chances in European competitions, as well as England’s going into international tournaments. With advantages such as this to the EPL, it is conceivable that they will offer large amounts of money to make sure the restructuring does take places. The financial assistance, though, could possibly come with the condition of a majority or all of the extra 8 places going to Premier U21/B teams.
As much as Harvey has insisted on Premier B teams not being included, money talks as the £1million has shown with the Football League Trophy. If a good financial package is offered for Premier B teams’ participation in the lower league (which benefits its members as well), it will be hard for the Football League to suggest otherwise. The advantages of U21 sides playing within League One, Two or maybe a newly created League Three are obvious, although their introduction could be detrimental to the teams that are already within the league. Should this happen, fans would no doubt feel cheated by their own clubs and the English game could once again be ignoring its grassroots for the interests of England’s big boys.
The possibility of Premier B teams being in the lower leagues is still a mere possibility – it may never happen. But, where there once was a strong disapproval to such a suggestion, the inclusion of Premier League U21 sides into the Football League’s cup competition could be the beginning to what will potentially change the face of English Football at the grassroots level.
