National League clubs pull out of National League Cup over cost and fixture concerns

Several National League clubs have confirmed they will not be taking part in next season’s National League Cup, dealing a fresh blow to a competition already facing criticism from within the fifth tier. Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers and Barrow AFC are among the sides to have turned down their invitations ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The competition, which pits National League clubs against Premier League 2 academy sides, has been criticised by several clubs for its format, with concerns also raised over scheduling clashes and the financial burden of taking part.

Yeovil and Forest Green cite fixture congestion

Yeovil Town and Forest Green Rovers both confirmed their withdrawal this month, with both clubs pointing to already packed fixture lists as the main reason behind the decision. The pair indicated they would rather focus their energies on the league table and the major domestic knockout competitions than commit to an extra round of matches against academy opposition.

Their stance reflects a wider unease among National League clubs, many of which operate on tight budgets and cannot easily absorb additional fixtures without risking player burnout or disrupting preparation for league matches.

Barrow point to costs and poor attendances

Barrow AFC were the most forthright of the clubs to withdraw, releasing a statement that laid out their reasoning in detail. The Cumbrian club said: “Significant travel and operational costs associated with participation in the National League Cup, coupled with historically low attendances and limited financial return during the early stages of the competition, have been important factors in the Club’s decision-making process.”

Barrow did acknowledge that greater prize money is on offer in the later rounds of the competition, though this was clearly not enough to persuade the club to commit given the costs involved in reaching that stage.

A competition with a chequered history

The National League Cup was first launched in the 1979/80 season before being scrapped after 2000/01. It has been revived and reworked several times since, with the current format introduced in the 2024/25 season featuring 16 National League clubs alongside 16 Premier League 2 sides.

Under this structure, the 32 clubs are split into eight groups of four, each containing two National League teams and two Premier League 2 teams. National League clubs host all four of their group opponents, with the top two in each group progressing to the quarter-final stage.

The inclusion of Premier League academy sides has proved a sticking point for several National League clubs, who have questioned the appeal and integrity of a competition featuring development teams rather than fully senior opposition. Combined with the financial and logistical strain reported by Yeovil, Forest Green and Barrow, the early withdrawals suggest the National League Cup faces a tough task in winning over sceptical clubs for the 2026-27 season.