[themaclad]

Gone from the first round afterwards, the soft tossers at the top of the money league get their way

[Lord Snooty]

Pathetic! How can the FA justify this? It's their prime competition. The competition that once was the envy of the world but now won't even be on BBC or Itv next year.

[themaclad]

And all those extra Champion League games that will tire the little darlings out

[themaclad]

Tranmere Rovers condemn the disgraceful decision taken by The FA and the Premier League to change the format of the FA Cup, including the scrapping of replays.

There was no consultation with Football League clubs, National League clubs or grassroots clubs to whom the competition represents not only their best opportunity to create life-long memories for supporters but also a hugely important source of income. We also understand that FA Council members were not consulted about the changes.

The decision, and the way it was taken, demonstrate a total lack of respect for the football pyramid and its fans. Football belongs to all of us and decisions should not be taken in back room deals in which only the very wealthiest clubs are allowed to participate. It is yet another eloquent example of the 19th-century governance that means that football simply cannot regulate itself and needs the Independent Football Regulator to have real teeth.

We condemn the changes wholeheartedly and urge The FA to suspend them immediately until all stakeholders in the game are properly consulted.

[themaclad]

Newcastle and Tottenham players who are so physically exhausted from playing all those league games as well as the occasional cup replay arrived in Australia to do end of season tours