Club affected by shock Carabao Cup change releases telling statement after EFL announcement

One of the clubs affected by a major change to the 2025/26 Carabao Cup has released a statement on the matter.

The EFL announced on Thursday afternoon that a preliminary round would be added to next season's competition.

The reason behind the change is to even out the number of teams that will enter rounds two and three, with nine Premier League teams entering at round three due to their participation in European football.

Therefore, the teams that finished 21st and 22nd in League Two - Accrington Stanley and Newport County - will take on newly-promoted Oldham Athletic and Barnet in the preliminary round.

The ties will be regionalised as in rounds one and two, meaning Oldham will face Accrington and Barnet will take on Newport.

The decision has not gone down well with fans of the aforementioned four clubs - and, in a statement, one of the clubs appear to have made their feelings clear.

The title of their statement reads that the club have been 'forced to play [a] Carabao Cup preliminary round' - in a tone that has been reciprocated by fans of the Welsh club.

Taking to Twitter, one wrote: "Disgraceful. Premiership clubs travel all around the world playing needless games and then screw the EFL clubs."

A second added: "This is ridiculous. More concessions are being made for the Prem."

A third said: "Brilliant. It's alright for EFL teams to have to play extra games, but not PL ones seemingly."

County finished seven points clear of the League Two relegation places, but had a horror end to the season which saw them win just one of their last 12 matches.

The club sacked manager Nelson Jardim and replaced him with David Hughes, who left his role as the assistant coach of Manchester United U21s after three years in the job.

United academy director Nick Cox said: "Dave has played an important part in the recent success of the Academy, working closely with [U21 manager] Travis Binnion on the development of several young players on their journeys towards the senior squads both at Manchester United, and elsewhere in the Football League or in Europe."