YORK City co-owner Matt Uggla and the York City Supporters' Trust have taken to social media to criticise the new National League Cup.

As The Press reported, the new Cup will see 16 National League sides take on 16 under-21 teams from Premier League 2 in a midweek competition.

Teams will be split into four groups of eight, with the two best-placed teams in each group advancing to a knock-out stage to determine the winner.

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The first round of fixtures will begin on October 1-2, whilst the semi-finals will take place on March 11-12 and the final April 1-2.

National League clubs will take all gate receipts, whilst the Premier League has provided a £1 million combined prize fund for the competition.

Mark Ives, General Manager at the National League, billed the competition as "another exciting chapter in our partnership with the Premier League," saying: “Our sides will have a great opportunity to compete against some of the best academy players in the country."

York are one of eight fifth-tier teams that will not participate in the competition, alongside AFC Fylde, Eastleigh, Hartlepool United, Southend United, Solihull Moors, Yeovil Town and Barnet.

Uggla, who previously stated that he had no interest in entering the competition, questioned the decision to add more fixtures to an already congested calendar when that had led to the axing of FA Cup replays - something he is strongly against.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) last night, he said: "I thought the whole reason [for] not having FA Cup replays was too many fixtures...

"But I guess that only applies to the Prem teams.

"At least be honest about your reasoning, your masters said jump and you said how high."

Supporters' Trust chairman Seth Sowerby also welcomed the club's decision not to participate, branding the competition a 'farce'.

He said on social media: "Congratulations to the real winners of the 'Kickback Cup' - Barnet, Solihull, Southend, Hartlepool, Eastleigh, AFC Fylde, Yeovil & my very own York City.

"By declining to enter this farce of a competition you've prioritised fans & football over appeasing the Premier League."

York City Supporters' Trust themselves posted: "The Kickback Cup, thanks but no thanks Mr Ives & Mr Masters we preferred our FA Cup replays."