Reds taking extra Cup tie as positive

ACCRINGTON Stanley managing director David Burgess insists the club is taking a positive view on changes to the Carabao Cup directly affecting the club this coming season.

- RICHARD PARTINGTON

With nine Premier League teams involved in European competitions in the 2025/26 campaign, the League Cup needs to be balanced to ensure 32 teams contest the third round.

It means this season's Carabao Cup will introduce a four-team preliminary qualifying round, to reduce the number of clubs in round one and round two of the competition.

Stanley and Newport County as the two clubs finishing directly above the relegation zone in League Two last season will take on Barnet and Oldham the two clubs promoted from the National League.

The ties will be regionalised, meaning Stanley will take on Oldham in the week commencing August 4th. It is yet to be decided whether or not the preliminary tie will take place at the Wham Stadium or Boundary Park.

It means one extra hurdle for Stanley to jump if they are to repeat anything like last season's Carabao Cup adventure, which took them all the way to Anfield in the third round and a money-spinning tie against eventual Premier League champions, Liverpool.