The Walsall Football Supporters' Trust have released a statement in response to Walsall Football Club's decision to vote in favour of the English Football League's proposal that will see sixteen Barclays Premier League Academy/Under 21 sides entered into this season's EFL Trophy.
The statement, which was released via WalsallFCTrust.org.uk, reads; Last weekend, during all of the press coverage of the Euros and the trouble in France, the Football League announced their plans to change the format of what was formerly known as the Johnstones Paint Trophy.
While many of the proposals were uncontentious, one of the main changes is to include 18 Academy and under 21 teams from Premiership clubs in the competition.
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 at the time as the rest of Greg Dyke's proposals.
We are now extremely disappointed to find that Walsall football club was, in fact, one of the clubs which voted in favour of a trial of the proposals, something which the Trust believes would vastly reduce the chances of lower league teams reaching a Wembley final, 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 and 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 that the club immediately reconsider their support for this proposal, which seems to have no backing from the fans on the terraces, who are, after all, the backbone of any lower league team.
DID YOU KNOW?
It costs from as little as £2 per season to join the Walsall Football Supporters' Trust? If you'd like to join, or require further information, visit; walsallfctrust.org.uk