DETAILS of the controversial new-look EFL Trophy have begun to emerge and include a change in the type of team Premier League sides will be able to field.

The initial plans for a one-year trial, which Oxford United voted for among a majority at this month’s English Football League AGM, made a provision for 16 teams from category one academies.

It has now seems the under 21 teams will be replaced by under 23 sides, with up to four over-age players.

That move is in line with changes in the PL development league for this season, but is unlikely to quell any of the widespread concerns among fans it is the first step towards introducing B teams from top-flight clubs into the League pyramid.

United, who backed the plans on the basis of a pilot as an experiment to revitalise a struggling competition, have made it clear they would oppose any proposals of B teams in the league system.

The ‘Against League 3’ movement had already rejected the revamped competition.

Campaign manager James Cave said: “The EFL and its clubs are well aware football fans do not, and have never, supported these plans.

“Our studies show over 75 per cent of lower league fans are against the implementation of B teams.”

The details have come from a letter seen by the Press Association from EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey to League One and Two clubs.

It also set out a plan for penalty shoot-outs to be used to settle draws in the new group stage, with the successful team earning an extra point.