Based on the statement made by Coventry City earlier today, here are ten questions that Chris Anderson, you hope would have considered before voting in regard to changes to the Football League Trophy.
1 Midweek matches in lower league or early rounds of League & FA Cup are not generally condusive for big attendances apart from local derbies or games of importance.
Many people cannot get to home games due to work, school, college etc or poor transportation and many simply are unable to travel to places like Plymouth, Yeovil, Exeter, Carlisle, Hartlepool etc on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. If they could not get to matches in big enough numbers last season, where is the proof that they will be able to attend in greater numbers this season?
2 Matches in a group format will usually have some "dead rubbers" between teams who cannot qualify (Romania V Albania in the Euros last night for example). Is there a way to avoid such matches?
3 When you have managers who want to concentrate on the league rather than cup competitions, something which Tony Mowbray again stated is his plan in the Covenry Telegraph, where is the reason for supporters to go to a game where players will simply be going through the motions and not bothered if they are knocked out of the competition?
4 Football For A Fiver only produced decent crowds at the Ricoh Arena for a handful of games in this competition, will supporters be prepared to pay more this season for more matches?
5 Not everyone will get Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal. Tottenham etc in their group. Will matches against the U21 sides of Hull City. Crystal Palace, Stoke City, Middlesbrough, or Bournemouth for example be attractive enough to generate a crowd worth opening the Ricoh Arena or fans travelling in numbers to away matches for?
6 Will crowds for home matches in the competiton justify all the negotiations and costs of opening the Ricoh Arena for extra home games in the competition or should the club look to play 'home' matches elsewhere?
7 Will supporters be able to afford more matches in the competition and will this mean they will attend fewer league games, if they are going to more cup matches?.
8 Will voting in favour of the changes, affect Coventry City's chances of winning the competition?
9 Will CCFC have enough stewards available to be able to cover extra matches in the competition?
10 Will any television money on offer be enough to cover the loss through the turnstiles?