TRUST STFC have urged supporters to back Swindon Town by donating their match ticket money to charity after a significant number of fans revealed their determination to boycott the new-look EFL Trophy.

Last week the English Football League announced the final make-up for the 2016-17 version of the competition, formerly known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, with Town being drawn in a group with Chelsea’s U21s.

Trust STFC launched an online poll in the wake of the draw to gauge fan opinion, with 86 per cent of the 703 who voted in favour of staying away from the three group games, which include a home tie with Oxford United.

The Trust also received an abundance of replies through email and Facebook, the vast majority of which backed a boycott.

However, with many supporters wanting to protest against the direction of the competition without wishing to see the club lose out financially, the Trust have come up with a new initiative.

A Just Giving page has been set up where fans wishing to boycott matches can donate the equivalent of their ticket price to a fund which will benefit local charities, while simultaneously being reinvested in the club by purchasing merchandise which will then be sold again at fundraising auctions.

“The EFL Trophy has stirred a lot of emotion within the Swindon Town fan base, and football fans in general, for a variety of reasons,” said a TrustSTFC statement. “The Trust believes supporters should be free to decide whether or not they want to attend games without fear of recrimination from others.

‘We asked for feedback from fans, which shows a huge proportion are likely to steer clear of this season’s matches in the competition.

‘The Trust is concerned by the possibility of B teams joining the lower leagues in the future and would ask the EFL and Premier League to provide assurances that this will not be the case.

‘We are also concerned by the difference between the initial proposals for the competition, agreed by the EFL clubs at their summer conference, and the final set-up of the 2016-17 tournament.

“However, the expressed intention of our organisation is to keep Swindon Town’s best interests at heart and - from a financial viewpoint - participation in EFL Trophy is understandable.”

For more details and to donate to the Just Giving fund see link