Multiple club chairmen have expressed their willingness to support boycotts if enough others are prepared to do the same. Accrington chairman Andy Holt stated that he would support a boycott if enough clubs feel the same, emphasizing the need to fight against the changes to the FA Cup with all their might. The latest developments were prompted by Millwall chief Steve Kavanagh’s statement to Mirror Football, expressing his surprise at the announcement, as the EFL was not party to the agreement. He emphasized that the FA- Premier League deal impacts the rest of the pyramid, without including compensation for EFL clubs.

Following the backlash, the FA issued a statement addressing concerns over the proposed changes, particularly emphasizing the issue of scrapping replays from the first round onwards. The statement also outlined changes to the schedule, including an agreement for no Premier League games to be held on the day of the final or the day before. The FA stressed that the discussions focused on strengthening competitions, despite having fewer available dates and the need to maintain player welfare. The statement also mentioned “additional revenue opportunities” for clubs involved in earlier rounds of the competition, assuring to keep it under review to ensure that EFL and National League clubs do not lose out.