- The controversial decision to scrap FA Cup replays was announced last week
- Talks have reportedly been held to introduce a new cup competition.
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The Premier League and National League are reportedly in talks to create a new cup competition.
Last week it was announced that FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round onwards from next season, amid concerns over match congestion.
The decision was condemned by a number of EFL clubs and fans, but Mail Sport revealed it surprisingly had the backing of the National League.
The reason behind this may have become clearer now, as according to The AthleticDiscussions have taken place for the top 16 teams in the fifth tier to play against 16 Premier League under-21 teams.
It is understood that the proposed competition would have four groups of eight teams, four from each division, with National League teams playing Under 21 Premier League teams at home.
The decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards was announced last week.
It has now been reported that the National League is in talks with the Premier League to create a new cup competition.
The National League clubs would not play each other and would receive all gate receipts and half of the prize money, with the other half set aside to be divided among the 56 teams not participating in the National League competition. Northern League and National Southern League.
The competition will be heavily subsidized by the Premier League if given the green light.
The groups would be decided on a regional basis, although this will likely not be the case once the knockout stages arrive. The final format of the contest is yet to be decided.
The Athletic report states that the idea for the competition is based on the existing EFL Trophy, which has existed since its founding in 1981.
It is made up of 64 clubs, 48 from League One and League Two, along with 16 Under 21 teams from the Premier League and Championship with ‘category one’ academies.
The final is held each year at Wembley, and this could also be the case for the proposed new cup competition.
There were plans to potentially expand the existing EFL Trophy, inviting all 20 Premier League clubs and hosting more group games, but this now looks unlikely.
But the new competition may anger fans even more as it is due to start shortly before Christmas, in a period that will be freed up by the removal of FA Cup replays.
The decision to scrap FA Cup replays has proven extremely controversial, with EFL clubs insisting they were not consulted by the FA or their own league before the announcement was made.
The proposed new cup competition would be based on the existing EFL Trophy which Peterborough won earlier this month.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) spoke on Friday about his concerns with the football calendar, but a new cup competition could now be introduced.
Even with their elimination, Premier League clubs face more fixture chaos next season after the proposed schedule was published earlier this week.
As things stand, there are currently multiple clashes between European and domestic matches following the expansion of the Champions League, while the mid-season break has been scrapped.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters raised concerns about the football calendar at the 48th General Assembly of the European Leagues press conference in London on Friday, stating that the calendar is currently at a “dead point.” inflection” and that “something has to give.
However, if the new cup competition between the National League and Premier League Under 21 teams goes ahead, the calendar will become even busier.