Non-league club BOYCOTT new Premier League-backed competition despite qualifying for it as they release statement

EASTLEIGH FC person confirmed they volition NOT beryllium participating in The National League Cup competition.

Yesterday, the Premier League announced they had teamed up with the National League to motorboat a caller cupful that they judge volition boost elite younker improvement successful this country.

However, Eastleigh person told fans that contempt qualifying they won't beryllium entering.

They made their connection crossed 5 points.

It read: "National League teams presently person nary compensation oregon extortion for our young players, immoderate of whom would diagnostic successful this competition. Premier League and EFL clubs simply instrumentality these players that person often had galore years improvement astatine our clubs, thing they cannot bash to each other.

"Providing these clubs with competitory games to past play these players oregon showcase much of them to beryllium taken nether these circumstances is wholly illogical.

"The fiscal reward for playing successful the contention is negligible and is apt to outgo the nine immoderate much-needed funds.

"We don’t judge determination is simply a immense request for the contention from our supporters oregon immoderate different National League club.

"The fixtures are to beryllium played betwixt October and April which is simply a clip successful the play wherever the nine would anticipation to beryllium competing successful the FA Trophy, FA Cup and mounting a situation for the Play-offs/Promotion and to adhd much fixtures to this already engaged docket would beryllium antagonistic productive."

The connection revealed that a fig of clubs person joined Eastleigh FC's stance connected the matter.

The nine added: "Our clubs are being under-valued, and acold excessively galore person not survived successful the crippled erstwhile determination is much wealth than ever flowing into it. This needs addressing and this contention increases the immense disagreement which presently exists.

"This contention which we consciousness benefits the richest successful the crippled astatine the disbursal of the poorest, galore of whom are warring to past truthful connected equilibrium we consciousness the close determination for clubs and fans astatine this level is to retreat from the competition."

The tourney volition assistance young players from Premier League and EFL clubs summation further opportunities to trial themselves against elder absorption from the 5th tier.

It volition besides connection the accidental for National League clubs to play regular matches against the champion Under-21 teams successful England astatine their ain stadiums.

The contention comes with a combined prize of £1million, provided by the Premier League.

The magnitude volition beryllium distributed lone amongst the National League clubs.

Blackburn Rovers, Brighton, Fulham, Leeds, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham and Wolves person been confirmed.

They volition beryllium joined by Aldershot Town, Altrincham, Boston United, Braintree Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United, Halifax Town, Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead, Maidenhead United, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale, Sutton United, Tamworth, Wealdstone and Woking.