York City boss Scott Lindsey has stated that Ollie Pearce’s first-minute substitution against Newcastle United was purely down to meeting the requirements of the EFL Trophy’s squad rules.
The Minstermen fielded a much-changed side in their Group C opener, lining up with the pre-tournament expectations the former Crawley Town boss set as they adjust to life back in League Two for the first time in a decade.
Lindsey Reveals Pearce Situation
York were beaten on the day by Newcastle’s Under 21 side, and despite a promising performance from the young Magpies side, the main talking point from the match was the first-minute substitution of striker Ollie Pearce.
The 31-year-old was taken off the pitch after just 44 seconds in North Yorkshire, with 18-year-old Ben Farrar coming on in his place to see out the match.
After the game, in an interview with BBC Radio York, Lindsey explained Pearce’s quick cameo on the night, revealing that it was only done to meet the EFL Trophy’s squad rules, which require four outfield players who have either started 40 senior games or played in the games immediately before or after the cup tie to be selected from the start.
Lindsey stated of the rules: “Massively ridiculous. Ollie’s trained today. The boys who have been playing in the first team trained against the youth team and done a really good session.
“And then he had to come tonight and do that. It’s ridiculous. But we had to do it because we have to tick all the boxes for the rules. It’s madness, it really is.
“I think it’s stopping younger players for clubs like ourselves from playing. Ben Farrar starting on the bench. He should be starting that game. I think they try and support Premier League clubs rather than the clubs at our level.
“They want Premier League clubs to play against seasoned pros, which is fine, fair, but then it doesn’t help our homegrown talent. I think they need to look at the rules for the competition, definitely.
“The reason I picked Ollie Pearce was because he lives in York. I’m not even joking, I made it open to the lads who trained this morning ‘you don’t have to come tonight.’ I think they all did come because they thought I was testing them out.
“But we picked Pearcey because he lives in York. I didn’t want anyone travelling from Sheffield or wherever they live and come on the pitch and play for 30 seconds.”
Competition Flaw Exposed Once More
The EFL Trophy has become much maligned in recent years with the inclusion of the Premier League academy sides, and while there are certainly benefits for those teams, as Scott Lindsey pointed out, the current rules are perhaps negatively affecting clubs at the lower end of League Two, many of whom might not view the competition as a priority.
While a rule change to make it more open to academy players could open a can of worms, which essentially relegates the Trophy to a youth cup tournament if implemented, a rebalancing may be needed in order to make all participating clubs happy.
In York’s scenario, having only just come up and wanting to make the most of their League Two chances, then playing in midweek against an academy side will not be a particularly appealing game, especially when Lindsey wants his key players fully rested for future matches.
With two more group matches ahead of them in the form of Bradford City and Rotherham United, this is a situation which will rear its head a couple more times, and firmly push a rule change conversation into the agenda.