Lower-league clubs could BOYCOTT the FA Cup in fury after the Premier League

Furious lower-league clubs have raised the prospect of boycotting the FA Cup after the controversial move by the Premier League and FA to scrap replays.

Owners and fans of many sides outside the top flight have been left outraged by the move, which they say will hit them in the pocket and was made without them being consulted.

On a developing day a number of clubs came forward to make public statements decrying the cull while a series of urgent meetings were held by the EFL, who themselves claimed that the abolition of replays ‘was agreed solely between the Premier League and FA’.

Mail Sport understands that one of the options discussed was a boycott of the competition when the changes come into effect next season.

Such a move is unlikely, according to sources, but is being considered as a 'nuclear option'. One major concern is that such a boycott could jeopardise solidarity payments from the Premier League.

Accrington chairman Andy Holt posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he 'would support a boycott if enough clubs feel the same'.

The FA say they made the call on the back of an expansion to the Champions League which means more fixtures for those in the competition.

They added that an extra £33m received from the Premier League in exchange for the axing of replays from the First Round would go on 'grassroots'.

In an updated statement released this morning they claimed that the EFL were consulted for 'well over a year' through the Professional Game Board (PGB), which consists of four EFL representatives, four from the top flight, and the FA board. 'Removing FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that hey could not continue,' read the FA statement.

EFL officials have been left furious at