Football League Trophy

Prize money doubled but 16 'Elite Academy Teams' involved.

Just the start for me.  Throw money at it to silence enough of those clubs who will disagree, which is exactly what they'll do to get League 3/Old Firm teams here.

https://www.theguardian.com/fo.....ll-league-trophy-efl

Absolutely disgusting, and this is just the start. Before we know it we will be playing United under 21's in the league. Really think the FL fans need to rally together against this, boycott or something,

A fans boycott is surely on the cards

Tinpot

A competition intended for the lower football league teams to realistically get a cup sold off by the FL for 30 pieces of Premiersh*t silver !!! Absolutely disgusting and another example of how the Premiersh*t is ruining football for the clubs lower down the pyramid.

Any money they add to the prize fund will be lost in gate reciepts , there would be hardly anyone attend a game to see a B team of 17 year olds

Boycott for sure, what a disgusting decision. Do these people not care what fans think? The people that put there money into it..

Boycott any game against one of these "elite academy teams" then. Home or away.

Maybe just boycott the whole competition see every game with empty stadiums that'll get the message through.

Thin end of the wedge. Boycott all games for me.

Agree with all of the above. Nothing less than a total boycott is required. Hopefully the league clubs will just put out youth teams too and make the whole competition pointless. There is absolutely no room for this B-team nonsense.

Absolutely no flipping chance I'm going to watch us against an academy team. They can intercourse off the bunch of girl privates.

Bad news appointing an ex Superleague club owner as chairman, look at what a mess the RL structure is.

Don't be surprised to see the league re-structured allowing  Premier League  academies to play in the league. This is just testing the water to see the fans reactions

In fact, thinking about it, a boycott isn't enough. Down the ground and protest outside would be better.

Play the youths and make it totally pointless for the Premiershit teams.

Boycott it's a set up

Stupid idea.  I have no interest in watching Town play a reserve side.  The whole purpose of the this Cup was to create a trophy for the bottom 2 leagues.  Now it is completely devalued and it treats clubs like ours with condescension as if we only exist to provide a run out for PL youths and stiffs.  If they want to play competitive football, get a transfer or loan deal.  

I realise that if we drew Chelsea in the FA Cup, they might put out a 'weakened' side but if we win, the record says we beat Chelsea.  I don't care if we win or lose v Chelsea U21s.

I would like to see proper ties between 2 league teams to be supported but an empty stadium vs U21 teams.  

Empty stadiums speak volumes, and if clubs get wind that fans are prepared to boycott the competition entirely then they'll fight it. I certainly won't be going to see us play Stoke U21's away.

Absolutely ridiculous decision.

Nothing less than a total boycott of all the games in the competition will see them get the message.

Wonder how town voted?

"approved at the English Football League’s annual general meeting in Portugal"

And a free holiday to boot! It's not just at FIFA that corruptions rife.

The more i think about it, the more flipping livid i get. If you want to blood your bright young things, stop signing so many of them and loan out the ones with potential to teams at our level. Also stop throwing money at everything to get your way. Fans in the lower leagues don't give a shite. If they did, they would go and support a Premier League side. The twits just don't get it and if our board had any hand in this decision, i will be extremely drunk off with them.

So getyourfactsright, where does the club stand on this issue?

Petition signed..

https://www.change.org/p/the-head-of-the-efl-abandon-the-2016-17-efl-trophy-proposals

Great article here

http://thesetpieces.com/features/7692/

Quoted from Bigdog

Petition signed..

https://www.change.org/p/the-head-of-the-efl-abandon-the-2016-17-efl-trophy-proposals

We need to get this signed by as many people as possible. Share it on social media and raise awareness. We need to put our feet down now or they'll think they can ride roughshod over us with future proposals that benefit the elite and cheapen our competitions and very existence. The day Town entertain Man United Under 21's in a competitive fixture is the day I stop going.

It's a right load of male masturbation.

These fornicators are ruining the game for greed. I'm no Luddite (although I was born in Louth), but you make change for the better, not to support the vanity projects of billionaires. There would be a very simple way to sort the English talent question and that would be to ensure the majority of people on the pitch at any one time are from the home nation. You have as many non-English players in your squad as you wish, thus avoiding restriction of trade questions.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

Stupid idea. I have no interest in watching Town play a reserve side.  The whole purpose of the this Cup was to create a trophy for the bottom 2 leagues.  Now it is completely devalued and it treats clubs like ours with condescension as if we only exist to provide a run out for PL youths and stiffs.  If they want to play competitive football, get a transfer or loan deal.  

I realise that if we drew Chelsea in the FA Cup, they might put out a 'weakened' side but if we win, the record says we beat Chelsea.  I don't care if we win or lose v Chelsea U21s.

I would like to see proper ties between 2 league teams to be supported but an empty stadium vs U21 teams.  

Whilst I agree with all the comments on here, it's a bag of shite.

I think you will find that in past seasons in the early stages many clubs played their reserve teams.

I will never watch this format, even if Town get to a Wembley final.

That prat in charge of the EFL should be sacked-he is a bumbling idiot.

Quoted from ginnywings

Thin end of the wedge. Boycott all games for me.

Too right....

so we get this excrement dumped on us without even asking us, who do they think they are New Labour!

The problem is a lot of young fans will think this is great!!  Town v Man U etc, the club will promote this  with cheap tickets and free hot dogs and before we know it this will become the norm within a few years, and then we will forget even thinking about boycotting it.

We must fight this on a large scale.

Would be very interesting to see which clubs voted in favour and which against.

I'm all for supporting the club and I'm right behind the season ticket drive.
But as a season ticket holder for many a year it can't be a one way process. We, as supporters, via the trust should have been consulted.
If it's about money I may reconsider my own commitment, if it's only money that talks. This more than sucks and is very demotivating.

Yup. We're all sat here talking about a boycott  
It's close season, we've pretty much switched off emotionally.
Let's see what happens when it's mid season, we're riding high in the league and JF and Co ask us to go and support our club etc.  I will not go, but would be interested to see how many still do !!

It's wrong . We all know this is just the beginning aswell probably their idea of 'testing the waters' to see what fans off clubs will do ( if the PL, FL  or club higher powers even care ) . As people have said don't go guys , don't go ( not that many people care too much of the early rounds anyway ) but it's a wider picture than that it's about them taking over OUR teams leagues and monopolising them for their gain . I don't want the football league restructured its fine as it is with REAL clubs it has with passionate fans , not some B team who we will play on one of their little mini stadiums next to the first teams ones with about 50 men and his dog . Fox

Quoted from Civvy at last

Yup. We're all sat here talking about a boycott  
It's close season, we've pretty much switched off emotionally.
Let's see what happens when it's mid season, we're riding high in the league and JF and Co ask us to go and support our club etc.  I will not go, but would be interested to see how many still do !!

That's why we need to build momentum now and continue it through the summer. Petitions are all well and good as a starting point, but ultimately they achieve intercourse all.

From what I can see, opposition to this is widespread, and certainly stronger than opposition to the idea of B Teams in the league, or the restructuring. I'd imagine this is partly down to the way the FL have tried to sneak this through without any consultation, and then attempted to bury the statement by releasing it just hours before the start of the Euros. It absolutely reeks of the snide, contemptuous attitude the FL (and, let's not forget, many club representatives) have.

This needs to be a collective, coordinated, inclusive protest across the whole football league and even Premier League fans, where possible. I'd start with leafleting at friendlies, spread the word to people who don't have these conversations, or aren't engaged online, or don't care at the moment.

Banners, chants, leaflets - they all have their place but nothing will work like a boycott. Nobody will want to be associated with a product that actively turns fans away from grounds. I think the FL have copulated themselves here in choosing a competition that very few people will really care about boycotting.

I hope that support, in any form, will be forthcoming from the Trust and local press outlets around an issue that is clearly a threat to the very soul of football in this country.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

It's a right load of male masturbation.

These fornicators are ruining the game for greed. I'm no Luddite (although I was born in Louth), but you make change for the better, not to support the vanity projects of billionaires. There would be a very simple way to sort the English talent question and that would be to ensure the majority of people on the pitch at any one time are from the home nation. You have as many non-English players in your squad as you wish, thus avoiding restriction of trade questions.

See what you did there  

Ska is right.

Clearly the timing is snide.It just shows the calibre of people we're dealing with. Too guilty to deal with this at a decent time and consult their 'stakeholders'. Sneaky little feckers.

Trust members write to the Trust. Everyone write to the Club to find out what the Club's position is on this.

http://mobile.lutontown.co.uk//news/article/gary-sweet-luton-town-efl-3140729.aspx

Luton voted against. How about us? As a club which had one of it's best ever moments in this competition I really hope JF didn't make another ridiculous decision

I've got bored of going to Wembley, anyway.

Boycott it is.

I sort of hope Cleethorpes Town are at home one of the nights we play so they get the benefit of 1000 theough the gate watching first team football rather than the PL kids.

So far the following have confirmed that they voted against.  Wimbledon, Accrington Stanley, Hartlepool, Luton, Port Vale and Portsmouth. They don't have blood on their hands but do we? I really hope it's not a guilty silence from the club.

Quoted from LH

I sort of hope Cleethorpes Town are at home one of the nights we play so they get the benefit of 1000 theough the gate watching first team football rather than the PL kids.

That's a cracking idea LH. The way things are going with footy now, if those fookers at the top table start to dictate over our leagues as well, i may end up going to watch someone like Clee Town instead for a football fix.

Looks like a blatant Trojan horse for placing B-Teams and the Old Firm into the lower leagues and should be resisted at every turn.

I'd favour a boycott and protests outside the ground at matches.

I'm also intrigued as to how we voted and also how our vote is decided.  Do the board come to a collective decision and send someone as a delegate?  Does Fenty, as HiPPO (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) appoint himself, Captain Mainwaring-like ("the appointed leader, which will be me") as our spokesman?  Does anyone get to know what happened?  Were the Trust consulted?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Ska is right.

Clearly the timing is snide.It just shows the calibre of people we're dealing with. Too guilty to deal with this at a decent time and consult their 'stakeholders'. Sneaky little feckers.

Trust members write to the Trust. Everyone write to the Club to find out what the Club's position is on this.

We are already getting mails from disgruntled members. May it long continue. My personal view is that it is a truly dreadful development. I am yet to find anybody on the Trust board who agrees with it. We haven't had the opportunity to discuss it yet but we will. In the meantime I'd urge everyone to sign the petition. Mobilise!!

Terrible, awful decision. The premiership only want this cos they have hoarded so many young players who they refuse to play and refuse to loan out. So if they are missing competitive football by u21 level it's their fault not ours, so the solution is not to make our comps change, it's to change them. I really hope the club wasn't dumb enough to vote for this - it is a slippery slope to B teams meaning even more well funded (but soulless) teams between us and success. English football is probably unique in being so well supported so low down the pyramid, something worth preserving not destroying to benefit primadonership development programmes. BOYCOTT

This disgraceful decision has the slimy hand of Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey all over it.

His stated aim is to get the League restructured and allow 8 more teams into it. This is a back-door way of reducing resistance and allowing B-teams into the League structure.

The fans must fight against this latest move against clubs like ours and the fans who support them. If this goes ahead, that is a further step down the slippery slope of Premier League total domination. Remember that well over one half of Premier League clubs are foreign owned and they don't give a t**s about England or English clubs.

Fight them on the beaches as Churchill would have said.

Boycott the Trophy definitely.

Should it happen ensure that they play the games in empty stadiums as a protest

On a slight tangent, Chelsea have announced their retained list and they will have 82 contracted players next season. This is the reason we're not producing top class youngsters because there's 19/20 year olds who can't even get into their clubs u21 team, it's an absolute disgrace this whole thing.

A boycott of the B-team games isn't enough.  The whole financial viability of the tournament needs to be undermined in every game, even if we're drawn against Donneh or Hartlepool.

A slight glimmer of hope....it has been agreed for a one season trial only 2016/2017....i cant imagine this season can be stopped now ,as a democratic system is in operation and the member clubs have actually already agreed to it.  

However;

Completely boycott the competition for this season. That means every game, every ground, every round. No fans, no income for the clubs.  That will kill it. Worst case, one season, thats all.  The fans do have the power to influence this, we just have to stick to it.

Name and shame those clubs who did vote yes.  I would think a freedom of information request may be possible to reveal the vote, that is if the league dont publish the minutes. Anyone savvy with making such requests ?

Apparently Championship clubs didn't get a vote, so to pass it needed more than 24 out of 48 clubs voting yes.

Judging by the lack of noise coming out of BP, I think we can assume which way "we" voted. I say "we" because it looks like, quite obviously, none of us or the Trust were consulted. I hope I am wrong and it was GTFC "no" vote.

On league restructure

From talking to the chap who runs the club's twitter account, it seems the office staff are in the dark over how gtfc's representatives voted which explains why there hasn't been any kind of official statement yet. Bit disappointing that whoever is in Portugal hasn't felt the need to keep club staff and supporters back home informed, but if it's Fenty over there voting for us then that's no real suprise.

The petition is doing the rounds on FB.  Most Trust Board members have signed it including those currently at the Euros. Please sign and share the hell out of it...

Oh and whilst you are at it drop the Trust an e-mail stating your unequivocal opposition...

Personally can't wait for the day the trust run the club

Didn't someone say it was all done last year which if that was the case we were still in the conference and wouldn't have voted.

I would go as far as to say that if we find out the Dear Leader voted in favour of this, then there should be a putsch to depose him from his position at the club and get someone else to be Chairman.  

No-one can doubt his enthusiasm and determination to get us back in the league, but as a football administrator the man hasn't got a clue.  No doubt we'll be treated to another interview live from Zsa Zsa Gabor's boudoir telling us why the arrangement is in our interests, but unless it transpires he voted against, I'm afraid it's time to be rid of the man.

Does anybody actually know if GTFC got to vote or are we just guessing? We are back in the league by how long surely the decision was made before we had that AMAZING day back in may? Utm

Of course we did - the vote (& debate) was held yesterday, as confirmed by statements released by some of the clubs who can hold their heads high and opposed it.

All quiet in the Fenty household - I'd be releasing a statement before your silence digs yourself a hole you can't climb out of.

Oxford and Bristol Rovers have confirmed they voted against. That's 8 clubs out of 48 who have voted against. We can't give this one up until we find out which way the club has voted. If we've agreed to it then Fenty deserves all the stick he'll get. His one saving grace is that despite his terrible decision making he appears to have the club's best interests at heart. If he's voted for this he can no longer claim that this is the case.

No excuses, if Fenty and/or any other board member voted for this they should be asked to step down from their position. They clearly have no relationship or understanding of their supporters.

If it is JF, and I don't know for sure it was, then he has to go. His loans are benign and they cannot be repaid until the club can afford to do so. We CAN have a well run club without an annual payment from him so all we are losing is his experience, and his regular gaffs.

Let the chains off and move the club into trustworthy hands!

Quoted from Cloudy

No excuses, if Fenty and/or any other board member voted for this they should be asked to step down from their position. They clearly have no relationship or understanding of their supporters.

If it is JF, and I don't know for sure it was, then he has to go. His loans are benign and they cannot be repaid until the club can afford to do so. We CAN have a well run club without an annual payment from him so all we are losing is his experience, and his regular gaffs.

Let the chains off and move the club into trustworthy hands!

I normally dismay at some of the knee jerk, impulsive reactions on this board but in this case I couldn't agree more. If JF has voted for this then it's a slap in the face of every supporter and of the proud history of this club.

Quoted from Cloudy

No excuses, if Fenty and/or any other board member voted for this they should be asked to step down from their position. They clearly have no relationship or understanding of their supporters.

If it is JF, and I don't know for sure it was, then he has to go. His loans are benign and they cannot be repaid until the club can afford to do so. We CAN have a well run club without an annual payment from him so all we are losing is his experience, and his regular gaffs.

Let the chains off and move the club into trustworthy hands!

So are you going to put the 100k -150k per year he props the club up with, cant see the trust or the fans raising this extra every season

Look, you horrid little bootlicker, don't be under the impression that Fenty thinks any more of you than he does the rest of us nobodies. You can knock your infatuation with him on the head, it's becoming embarrassing.

The fans have the right to hear how the individuals representing the club have voted. We need to be told who voted, how they voted, and why.

A generally anonymous little jolly-up in the sunshine, I bet they thought fans across the country would let this one slide again and they'd be able to slope off back to their offices without being questioned. How wrong they were.

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

So are you going to put the 100k -150k per year he props the club up with, cant see the trust or the fans raising this extra every season

we could just run up a bill we cant afford and go into admin...next stop Premier League !!

Quoted from ska face

Look, you horrid little bootlicker, don't be under the impression that Fenty thinks any more of you than he does the rest of us nobodies. You can knock your infatuation with him on the head, it's becoming embarrassing.

The fans have the right to hear how the individuals representing the club have voted. We need to be told who voted, how they voted, and why.

A generally anonymous little jolly-up in the sunshine, I bet they thought fans across the country would let this one slide again and they'd be able to slope off back to their offices without being questioned. How wrong they were.

No need for name calling, I was just asking the question, I dont for one minute think this decision is the right one and If and it is an IF at this point the representatives of GTFC voted for this then yes I think an explanation of why they felt it was the best for the club but as we dont know who voted and how they voted I think its a bit early to start a mutiny.

Quoted from Cloudy

No excuses, if Fenty and/or any other board member voted for this they should be asked to step down from their position. They clearly have no relationship or understanding of their supporters.

If it is JF, and I don't know for sure it was, then he has to go. His loans are benign and they cannot be repaid until the club can afford to do so. We CAN have a well run club without an annual payment from him so all we are losing is his experience, and his regular gaffs.

Let the chains off and move the club into trustworthy hands!

Wouldn't it make more sense to explain to JF why he's wrong and try to change his mind? We have an active Trust with members on the board. To demand he steps down with no way of enforcing it and no alternative to replace him seems unhelpful. JF seems to be looking at the financial numbers. If there is a complete boycott of these ridiculous B-team games, which I hope there will be, then he will realise this isn't a good option. Having said that I've no idea how he, or the many other voters, could possibly think this was a good idea in the first place and it's totally embarrassing.

Quoted from moosey_club

we could just run up a bill we cant afford and go into admin...next stop Premier League !!

I for one would not ever want to go back to that Tinpot League, Longest 6 years ever.

The ultimate irony would be to see two of the academy teams make it through to the final, played out in front of, ooooh, a thousand or so "fans". Biggest crock of sh1te I've heard in years. Anybody running a book yet on which way our JF voted?

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

So are you going to put the 100k -150k per year he props the club up with, cant see the trust or the fans raising this extra every season

It is NOT  needed Rob if the club was run on a sounder footing. The majority of fans don't want more debt, and if any was needed in the last financial year then that goes to prove my point.

I don't think it is fair getting into a discussion with a one eyed man, JF hasn't set me up in business, if he had I may have to toe the party line  

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

Wouldn't it make more sense to explain to JF why he's wrong and try to change his mind? We have an active Trust with members on the board. To demand he steps down with no way of enforcing it and no alternative to replace him seems unhelpful. JF seems to be looking at the financial numbers. If there is a complete boycott of these ridiculous B-team games, which I hope there will be, then he will realise this isn't a good option. Having said that I've no idea how he, or the many other voters, could possibly think this was a good idea in the first place and it's totally embarrassing.

Exactly, we have 2 Trust board members who were NOT consulted. I firstly want the board spokesman to explain that!!!

IF it is JF who has voted then he has NO understanding of the fans.

BTW would we need to replace him? There are 5 other directors aren't there? Run the club within its means then we don't need a sugar daddy with no concept of anything other than figures.

Quoted from Cloudy

It is NOT  needed Rob if the club was run on a sounder footing. The majority of fans don't want more debt, and if any was needed in the last financial year then that goes to prove my point.

I don't think it is fair getting into a discussion with a one eyed man, JF hasn't set me up in business, if he had I may have to toe the party line  

JF did not set me up in business and I don't tow the party line as you put it, But in the past  if we wanted a competitive playing budget then money had to be put in to the club by the Trust and other board members, I was only trying to point out that I could not see the trust or other board members putting that sort of  shortfall in.
I would love to see the club live within its means or even start to make a profit but this is football so come Christmas the fans and  possibly the manager always want new faces and that comes at a cost.

Should we not wait for the clubs response on this matter before we jump to conclusions and start putting a noose around someone's neck?

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

Wouldn't it make more sense to explain to JF why he's wrong and try to change his mind? We have an active Trust with members on the board. To demand he steps down with no way of enforcing it and no alternative to replace him seems unhelpful. JF seems to be looking at the financial numbers. If there is a complete boycott of these ridiculous B-team games, which I hope there will be, then he will realise this isn't a good option. Having said that I've no idea how he, or the many other voters, could possibly think this was a good idea in the first place and it's totally embarrassing.

If he's the sort of person to make a decision like this without consulting his colleagues on the board then he's not going to listen to reason.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Should we not wait for the clubs response on this matter before we jump to conclusions and start putting a noose around someone's neck?

They need to be quicker off the blocks than this. They're quick to push out all sort of balderdash regarding gambling adverts.

Quoted from barralad

The petition is doing the rounds on FB.  Most Trust Board members have signed it including those currently at the Euros. Please sign and share the hell out of it...

Oh and whilst you are at it drop the Trust an e-mail stating your unequivocal opposition...

enquiries@marinerstrust.co.uk

http://www.twitter.com/@MarinersTrust%20

http://www.facebook.com/MarinersTrust

Don't forget john@gtfc.co.uk

Looking forward to our illustrious leader shedding some light on this situation in the morning.

We need to keep the pressure up on this.

Apparently the Hartlepool chairman has stated on twitter he'll put tickets for Trophy fixtures up to £100 each to prevent people coming & supporting the idea.

That's leadership. That's someone who understands the value of fans and their views. That's someone with principles and someone with a bit of nous.


I notice that Chesterfield have released a statement claiming that they were against the proposals...but voted in support of it anyway!   You couldn't write it. I hope those at GTFC aren't thinking that a similar sentiment is going to appease fans (if that's the way they've ended up voting, of course, we can only speculate at the moment) tomorrow.

Quoted from ska face

Apparently the Hartlepool chairman has stated on twitter he'll put tickets for Trophy fixtures up to £100 each to prevent people coming & supporting the idea.

That's leadership. That's someone who understands the value of fans and their views. That's someone with principles and someone with a bit of nous.


I notice that Chesterfield have released a statement claiming that they were against the proposals...but voted in support of it anyway!   You couldn't write it. I hope those at GTFC aren't thinking that a similar sentiment is going to appease fans (if that's the way they've ended up voting, of course, we can only speculate at the moment) tomorrow.

http://www.chesterfield-fc.co......evealed-3141089.aspx

Just seen the "statement" released on the website  

I'll stop short of saying "absolutely gutless & utterly insulting" right now, as I'm expecting some actual explanation a bit further on.

It looks like a cut and paste of a brief news report in a regional newspaper!

Pretty much no doubt now that we voted in favour. As always, Fenty's eye would have been on the bottom line and the increase in prize money (i.e. 30 pieces of silver) would no doubt have made him think it was a great idea. Clueless as usual, of course.

Quoted from Bigdog

Petition signed..

https://www.change.org/p/the-head-of-the-efl-abandon-the-2016-17-efl-trophy-proposals

Just signed.

Petition signed.

Typical Tory. Knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Massive own goal and a little bit more of me just turned off from football.

Surely the club need to clarify what has gone on. If a decision has been made without consultation with the trust, it goes to show that the arrangement with members being on the board is only for show.

It's simple, I won't purchase a season ticket until Fenty comes out and explains his decision on why he wants to destroy lower league football.

Just sent the following e-mail to john@gtfc.co.uk:

Quoted Text

Dear Mr Fenty,

As a concerned Grimsby Town supporter and season ticket holder, I'm worried that the recent vote by League One & Two clubs to allow Premier League Under 21 teams into the EFL Trophy for a trial period in the upcoming season will be used as a precedent to shoe-horn Premier League "B-Teams" into a re-organised future Football League structure. I can think of nothing less appealing in football than watching the Grimsby Town first team playing against Premier League reserves and youth team players, and I intend to boycott all EFL Trophy fixtures to register my opposition to this development.

Based on my own interest, and those of fellow concerned supporters, I would be very grateful if you could briefly clarify the following issues:

1) Who represented Grimsby Town Football Club at last week's EFL Summer Conference?
2) Did GTFC's representative vote for or against the inclusion of Premier League U21 teams in the EFL Trophy during the 2016-17 season?
3) How was this decision reached?

Thank you very much for your time.

Best Wishes
MY NAME

Fingers crossed for a detailed response.

I cannot hide my utter contempt for the person(s) who voted on behalf of GTFC.

We have a board of Directors who we are told discuss and, if appropriate, vote on matters to form the clubs opinion. Each board member has equal voting strengths i.e. one man one vote.

I understand that not only were other board members not consulted, the majority didn't even know the meeting was taking place ( Don't get me started on having it in Portugal FFS).

That smacks to me of deliberately trying to keep board members in the dark , that is a very slippery slope and destroys any working relationship in one swoop.

When there was talk a year or so ago about 'B' teams joining the new structure that WAS discussed at board level and the position was made very clear that The Trust were against it. Was that the reason why nobody mentioned it this time?

The decision may have been made from a financial point of view (?) but to balance that I will not be renewing my season ticket (if at all) until the fans get a proper answer from those who voted on behalf of GTFC.

There should be a huge feel good factor about the return to the FL but, once again someone comes along with ill thought out and ill timed remarks or decisions which scupper that.

So, so sad that the hierarchy are so far out of touch with the fans and despite having fans on the board their views weren't even asked for. Shocking treatment of the Trust and fans in general.

It really is making me consider whether I can be bothered anymore after holding season ticket(s) for many decades.

I am not sure we actually need to get that bothered about this, we have all the games back in league 2 to look forward towards, we are back in the League cup round 1, and we go into round 1 of the FA Cup, these 3 i have mentioned are so important to all of us, in reality how many of us are really that bothered about going to pay & watch the Football league Trophy, in my mind it is just as bad as the F A Trophy, it gets in the way, in my mind lets get knocked out in round 1 & focus on the most important games.

Quoted from chelseacity

I am not sure we actually need to get that bothered about this, we have all the games back in league 2 to look forward towards, we are back in the League cup round 1, and we go into round 1 of the FA Cup, these 3 i have mentioned are so important to all of us, in reality how many of us are really that bothered about going to pay & watch the Football league Trophy, in my mind it is just as bad as the F A Trophy, it gets in the way, in my mind lets get knocked out in round 1 & focus on the most important games.

In my view it is a HUGE issue.

The Trust and the fans have been sidestepped at best and treated as idiots.

Petition signed and have emailed Trust.

It's a one-year trial so if there is a large-scale boycott then fans can vote with their feet. Some people might even picket games.

Quoted from chelseacity

I am not sure we actually need to get that bothered about this, we have all the games back in league 2 to look forward towards, we are back in the League cup round 1, and we go into round 1 of the FA Cup, these 3 i have mentioned are so important to all of us, in reality how many of us are really that bothered about going to pay & watch the Football league Trophy, in my mind it is just as bad as the F A Trophy, it gets in the way, in my mind lets get knocked out in round 1 & focus on the most important games.

The reason you should be bothered about it is because it is the thin end of the wedge.

Allowing Premier League B teams to enter the Football League Trophy is a step closer towards implementing the flawed 'League 3' proposals and the effective dismantling of the English football pyramid.

What next - B Teams in League 2? How would you feel if they were admitted and we got relegated from the league again because we lost too many games to Chelsea B, Arsenal B etc?  Would you be bothered  if that happens?   How about B Teams in the FA Cup as well as A teams?  Where does it stop?

But it's not just the vote to allow it that is a disgrace - it's the way the vote was held.

The League lowered the threshold for acceptance in the ballot to 75 per cent. At least seven of the 48 clubs voted against, the proposal would not have passed using the League's normal voting threshold of 90 per cent.

The whole thing is a disgraceful fait accomplis and if GTFC signed up to it then the club has let its fans down and should be ashamed because it did not necessarily represent the majority view.

You should probabaly be bothered about the way GTFC decided how it's going to vote as well.  But until we hear from the club how the decision was reached there's no point speculating about that.