New changes have been announced to the JPT. These will start off as a trial in next season's competition and will involve a new group stage part of the tournament and 16 Premier League under 21 teams will enter. http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/premier-league-trial-for-the-trophy-3140598.aspx Totally disagree with this myself.
I have just seen the news on this also, the EFL have gone completely against the wishes of lower league supporters and the campaign aimed at preventing this move. Protests and Boycott plans are currently being discussed by the social media outlet Against League 3 - we all know what the long term aim of this trial is all about and therefore I will be boycotting ANY JPT Gills game next season that includes a Premier B side disguised in name as under 21 as our hosts/visitors. Does anyone have any knowledge of what clubs voted in favour of this move?
AL3 Statement: New EFL B-Team plans It is with great sadness AL3 learned today of the Football League voting to accept a “trial period” where Premier League B-Teams will play in a revamped Football League Trophy (previously The JPT). We lost. Supporters across the country, have lost. Fans of teams up and down the pyramid, lost. But the worst thing is that we were all defeated by the people who are meant to support us and help us. People who should nurture a love of the game, rather than destroy it. Supporters want to see their clubs play real teams. Real teams with history and something to play for. Teams with a following and a fanbase. Teams that have spent hundreds of years trying to be the very best that they can be. Instead continues the era where the lower leagues must further prop up The Premier League. Because a multi-billion pound TV deal isn’t enough. Because forcing EPPP on clubs isn’t enough. Because world class academies aren’t enough. A few games against teams that the Premier League treat so contemptibly is not going to solve the English youth development problem when clubs continue to hoard players. When there isn’t enough games to play this incredible collection of talent that has been amassed, The Premier League wants to play the clubs it pulled away from so spectacularly in 1992. The hypocrisy stinks. Supporters were told at this Football League AGM (in Portugal..) there would be no decisions made on the “Whole Game Solution” plans – just a consultation period. That was a lie. Two days ago, a source told us that the voting threshold had been changed for this FL AGM(you need 90% to pass FL proposals normally. Why only 75% for B-Teams?) We didn’t even believe it. What makes it worse is that many of you reading this will have been betrayed by your own clubs. No voting record is available with such a lack of transparency at The EFL, but initial reports suggest only 30% of clubs voted against. That’s roughly 50 clubs voting in favour. Shame on clubs who voted for these measures. Elsewhere at The EFL, the actions of Shaun Harvey, must be microscopically examined. The biggest irony is that the “Whole Game Solution” was meant to help alleviate the fixture congestion “crisis” yet this new group stage plan adds more fixtures rather than removes them. And what of the FA? Why has the FA been so painfully quiet on The FL reforms? Why is the FA Council refusing to vote for reform, despite a risk of losing £30m funding to grassroots football should it do so? What is the FA actually doing for supporters? How dare the FA sit back and watch these changes forced upon supporters. AL3 at this early stage recommends that supporters boycott ANY Football League Trophy game (but we will review the potential effect of this on non-deserving teams) – don’t let your team become just another youth development tool for the already powerful. We will liase with our partners and release a more full bodied strategy in the coming days. We are more than willing to work with the various other protest groups and petitions that have emerged following this announcement..The immediate response and outcry to these proposals has been duly noted by us, even if the Football League continue to ignore you. http://www.againstleague3.co.uk/eflbteams/
This is not the end, or even the end of the begining. It is a massive extraction of urine on a scale not seen before, even in these desperate times. On another site today claiming to bemoan the apparent lack of public interest in the Euros in the Medway Towns, one poster pointed out the fact that many players, in just one match, earn more than a SRN working 200 night shifts p.a at the Medway Hospital A&E. Justify that if you can. Are the public at last slowly waking up to the fact that they are being manipulated from on high by financial fascist puppeteers? Maybe not, but surely now the time has come for fans and voters alike to wake up and smell the dubbin and take action. FFS!
Yes, the only two clubs I've seen so far that have stepped forward against these changes, we just need to know the other 20 and it will reveal the 50.
Well we now know the first five clubs against this move; AFC Wimbledon, Accrington, Hartlepool, Luton, Portsmouth
BEFORE anyone shoots me down - I am in agreement with most of your views BUT.......... Let's consider a couple of points; 1. The JPT is treated with a lot of indifference by most football fans. The attendances are woeful. I cannot believe that it is cost effective to host a fixture in the early stages of the competition. I believe that you have to make significant progress, through the 'rounds', before the fans show any real interest. 2. (amongst other things) -- What do teams in the lower leagues [realistically], hope to achieve in any cup competition ? -- Usually it is reaching a stage where there is a chance of a tie against a Premier League side - and a chance of a 'giant killing.' On these occasions the parking around our ground does become a problem, and the attendance figure makes economic sense...................... So 3. What is anyone worried about ? With the new set-up, we're more likely to get a match against one of the 'big boys' - that's what you want, isn't it ? Whilst we all can be 'disgusted' at the contempt with which teams in the lower leagues are being treated - the fact is that WE, the fans of these teams in the lower leagues, are actually showing just as much contempt for the competition - if not for our teams' involvement by our continued absence from the games. It is little wonder that the 'governing bodies' see fit to take their turn to show contempt (again) for anything outside the EPL.
Here is how I would respond to your points alwaysright. It may be important to note that I do attend all JPT games at home and occasionally if we get an away draw. 1) I agree the attendances are not good - usually around the 2000 mark because people think we will play a weak team against a lower league team where the best we can hope for is avoiding embarrassment. But of course the attendances rise if we get near to Wembley. 2) I do like the competition because it gives us a chance of getting to Wembley where the chances of doing this in the League Cup or FA Cup are basically 0. While it may be 'only the JPT' I certainly wouldn't pass up a day out at Wembley and a chance of winning he competition. 3) I see the disappointment as this - In the FA Cup you get a chance of playing a big team but you are actually playing the big team. Yes they may play a few youngsters but generally these days the big teams play the better players normally. Whereas in this competition now you are going to be playing a lot of youngsters who most of which probably will never get into the team's first team. Then what is the final going to be like when Manchester City Under 21 play Sunderland Under 21 in the final at Wembley in front of 500 people? What also concerns me is that this is a back door route for B teams into the football league (possibly via a League 3 - which if it was to be done properly - without B teams - I'd be in favour of) and that really will be the beginning of the end.
I agree with your points, however, like yourself but...it's once again a turn of events to help Premier League clubs, in 1992 they chose to go their own way, now not satisfied with the mass millions they have accumulated, not satisfied with the foreign imports that in fact are keeping our own British talent out of the game, they want to infiltrate our lower leagues with their corrupt (UEFA as example) greedy virus. I've always been vocally supportive of our OWN youngsters at Gillingham, I'm one of the first always wanting to give them a chance. Not only that the voting was also fixed to push this through, it requires 90% to pass a motion, I believe the goal posts were moved to 75% for the greedy little......... I really hope our club voted against, lower league supporters are furious over this move, my twitter feed as been full of the outrage of the underhand tactics in the way this was applied, supporters are saying to their OWN clubs we hoped you voted against, we know Accrington, Wimbledon, Hartlepool, Luton & Portsmouth all did, I also read Port Vale did too, but have seen no evidence to confirm PV's situation on it at them moment. My stance is clear, even if we got to Wembley if it is against a B team i will not attend. For once supporters need to stand together on this matter, otherwise we might as well just give them our leagues on a plate.
I agree with always, I would be more interested in watching Gills play arsenal under21s in this cup rather than a weekened Barnet. Obviously this could be a back door opening for Prem to have in league 3 which I do not agree with Also what a load of rubbish teams we have for our pre season friendlies.
And I accept some supporters will enjoy those type of games, me personally I would rather watch a weekend Barnet side than an Arsenal under21 - the loyalty and glamour for me is watching a lower league side on a cold November night, without all the glamour and seeing less known players applying their trade. What stinks about all this is many things, despite attempted consultation by Against League 3, lower league supporters voices were completely ignored. This is a back door attempt to apply as what you are clearly against to install a future league 3. The EFL have tried to lose the sad news behind the media attention of the EURO2016. Sources already knew this was going to happen through leaked info and they kept this quiet for a few days I believe until the day of the opening ceremony (apologises if my info is wrong). Pressure was then put on lower league clubs and Accrington Stanley were the first to step forward to the best of my knowledge. The voted was skewed and changed to ensure it was pushed through from 90% to 75%, so much for the usual democracy. The Peterborough chairman was approached on his clubs stance and his reply was 'I'm on holiday so haven't been properly briefed with full details as of yet so no comment to really make.' - not properly briefed on full details on such an important matter (fair enough he is on hols). They want to also guise it as Under 21 because they know the mere mention of the name B Teams alienates supporters. I thought we was supposed be cutting back on mid-week games, to suit who, now we know the answer. This stinks and is dodgy beyond all belief, we only have to look at UEFA to see the footballing powers that be no longer have the genuine interests of football supporters at heart. It has just become a gravy train, ready to be milked even further by the Premier League academy teams. The Premier League do not care about English players otherwise they could cut back on their foreign imports, but no it has all become about ££££ - and now they want to infest us. Chelsea alone have stockpiled 82 players they can't play why is that our problem! I've loved my club for over 40 years and will do until the day i die but I will never attend a B Team game. Those that wish to watch the B Teams, I'm pleased you can watch the glamour of young talent but to do so will be the final divisive measure to the protection of OUR game. I've asked our club three times so far for their stance, they have chosen so far to not reply to mine or any other Gillingham supporters concerns over this matter. I know some clubs are choosing to wait until Monday, I see this as contempt on such an important matter. There has been a poll running on twitter and 98% of supporters have agreed we were not fairly consulted. Well done to Accrington, Wimbledon, Luton, Hartlepool and Portsmouth - i just hope of hope I can add our club to this list.
A sell out....plain and simple. And.....who wants to see the Gills play against an Arsenal under 21 side? That's not a real football team...the teams in the Conference are more real than that. Magic of any cup nowadays......yer 'avin' a larf and when one does draw a big named team, they treat you with such contempt that they field 70% youth, juniors and 'B' team players. No respect for the smaller teams......as always.
I found this link that gives a bit more insight to clubs with category one academies, the full list is at the bottom of the story; http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/...ltenham-Town/story-29386332-detail/story.html
This whole farce angers me so much, I am sick of League 1 and 2 clubs being seen as existing only to serve the need of the greed-driven Premier League with their selfish, egocentric view of football and scant regard for anyone outside of their elitist bubble. If a Premier League club wants to buy ready made players, if a Premier League club do not want to send their academy players on loan or give them a chance in matches even in competitions like the League Cup, if a Premier League club signs dozens and dozens of young players just because they can and they're cheap and in the hopes of some of them coming good and as a result many of their players are not played... Well that is NOT our problem. I promise I will boycott any fixture involving Portsmouth and a Premier League academy, and I will urge all Portsmouth supporters I know to do the same.
There's not an awful lot I can add to this thread which hasn't been said by other users. I too am extremely disappointed by these proposals but I have to confess when choosing which games I go to throughout the season, I do tend to avoid the JPT games. My only comfort would be if this is just a trial for one year only, the EFL, BPL & FA see that it's a failure and as such remove their stupid ideas of actual teams vs kids. I would hope that it would be so catastrophic that they also abandon their stupid ideas of League 3.
I am another one who goes to watch the JPT games, I actually enjoy them and the real chance of a Wembley trip. I will however boycott any game that helps the PL to dictate to us how our league should operate. I think part of this is connected to the new transfer rules, closing one option for the PL academy's to blood young players, it will almost certainly raise the possibility of a league 3 with PL "B" teams filling the gap. Let's not forget that a lot of PL under 21 teams have a large contingents of foreign players, so it's not even young English players getting the benefit.
Quite a number of league clubs from League One & League Two have now come forward to say how they voted and their reasons, sadly currently there has been no transparency from our own club on how they voted and their reasons, despite repeated requests via twitter. Completely ignored unless you are buying a new shirt or anything of a marketing nature, not even a we will publish a statement on so and so date or we will get back to you.
Brilliant, Gillingham FC & Mr Scally have given a response today, stating that they voted against, this is great news, despite the proposal cheating it's way through. The boycott by Against League 3, is suggesting that supporters financially help their clubs by other means than attending any Football League Trophy B Team games ie merchandise.
Good that the club voted against the changes (even if it has taken a while for them to reveal this). I do often attend JPT games. Next season I will attend JPT games against other football league teams but any games against B teams WILL NOT be attended by me even if it does mean missing a day out at Wembley.
