The club's stance on EFL Trophy proposals
Earlier today we published a press release issued by the English Football league announcing that Premier League Academy teams will be invited to enter the EFL Trophy (more recently the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) for season 2016-17.
The Dons Trust Board strongly opposes this change and accordingly AFC Wimbledon Chief Executive Erik Samuelson spoke against it and voted against it at the EFL’s annual general meeting. Regrettably, the majority of League 1 and 2 clubs decided to vote in favour.
The Dons Trust notes that this is a pilot for one year, and will continue to oppose initiatives that involve academy/under-21 sides competing in their own right in this and other first-team competitions.