“FARCICAL,” “backwards,” and “ludicrous” are just a few of the printable words Wanderers fans used to sum up the revamped EFL Trophy draw yesterday.

Despite being grouped in the northern sector, Phil Parkinson’s side face a trip to League Two new boys Cheltenham Town – which equates to a 280-mile midweek round trip.

Football League bosses have explained that teams were classified as ‘northern’ or ‘southern’ according to their division. The Robins, who won the National League last season, were the 12th most northerly club in League Two.

As a result, League One clubs Coventry City and Northampton Town – some 60-70 miles north of Cheltenham – were placed in the southern draw.

Wanderers’ group is not alone in its odd geography, either – Middlesbrough’s Under-21s have been paired against Cambridge, Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury in the northern draw, while AFC Wimbledon have been placed in the same group as Newport, Swansea and Plymouth.

Wanderers make the trip to Whaddon Road in the week commencing November 7 and have also been handed two home games in the draw, which was announced on a Twitter feed.

Everton visit the Macron on the week commencing August 29 but it remains to be seen what guise Ronald Koeman's side appears in.

The 16 category one academies who were granted a place in the EFL Trophy are obligated to play six players under the age of 21. Theoretically, half of the team could be made up of senior players.

Blackpool also visit on October 3, raising pertinent questions from Wanderers fans about how the club will try to get people to the game.

The club have indicated discounted entry will be available for both home games but have not yet made a firm decision on prices.

Changes to the competition formerly known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and lifted by Wanderers in 1989 as the Sherpa Van Trophy are part of the Premier League’s plan to improve competitive football for home-grown players at the top level.

Premier League 2 has been launched to replace the old Under-21s league and will now cater for players aged under-23 plus four over-age players.

An international competition has also been expanded, with at least three more competitive games guaranteed in the EFL Trophy.

Richard Scudamore, the executive chairman of the Premier League, insists the changes instigated this summer now end the debate about integrating B Teams into the Football League system.

“This is not university after school for the players,” he said. “This is a first job. This is the beginning and the end of B teams – this is it.

“That's the whole point of it, to be honest. We are absolutely consistent on our view about no B teams in the regular Football League.

“Yes, of course we know some of our clubs would like B teams. We look abroad and we see the benefit of B teams. It's just for the English football structure and pyramid, it doesn't work, and so this is it.

“We can console all these worried Football League clubs` supporters. This isn't the thin end of the wedge, this is the wedge.”

Shaun Harvey, the Football League’s chief executive, put the absence of some of the top Premier League clubs from the draw down to “scheduling” and the fact the competition will be played on international breaks.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the competition develops on the pitch and also the reaction it gets from the crowd.

"But as stressed previously this is a one-season trial and only at the end of the pilot will we take a step back and consider what lies in wait for future seasons.”

THE EFL TROPHY EXPLAINED

• Each team plays three games, the top two from each group go through.

• Clubs will be awarded the normal three points for a win and one for a draw – but in the event of a draw there will also be a penalty shoot-out, with an additional point on offer.

• The round of 32 will also be ‘regionalised’ with the top team in Wanderers’ group facing a second-placed team from another northern group.

• From the round of 16 onward it is a free draw. Each round consists of one tie, with no replays.

• A minimum of five first-team players must be included in Wanderers’ line-ups. Invited teams, such as Everton, will have to field at least six players aged under 21.

• The final will be played at Wembley on April 2.