IF last weekend’s third round attendances in the FA Cup are anything to go by then the FA may soon have to have yet another rethink about how to rekindle the magic of the famous old competition.

While non-leaguers Sutton had a bumper crowd for their tie, higher up the divisions interest was again on the wane.

Just over 11,000 at Wanderers was an improvement on the previous two rounds but hardly the numbers you would expect against a Premier League side and one managed by a former club legend in Sam Allardyce.

Then we had Cardiff City against Fulham – with even Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock stating he found it hard to get out of bed for the Sunday morning tie.

Just a week after 21,000 packed into the Cardiff City Stadium for a Championship clash with Aston Villa, only a quarter of that number watched the home exit for Warnock’s side.

There are a variety of reasons why attendances were so low – uninspiring ties, weakened sides, money being tight after Christmas and just a general apathy with the cup competitions.

Just look at the Checkatrade Trophy and the low gates that continues to ‘attract’.

Away followings you can count in the ground one by one – it seems the idea to introduce top-flight under-21 sides has backfired big time.

It is hard to see any future at all now for the trophy won by Wanderers in 1989.

The League Cup is in a similar boat if you look at just 1,500 Hull fans travelling to Old Trafford this week for a semi-final.

When interest is that low one step from Wembley, EFL bosses must be concerned.

The FA should take note.

FIFA have decided to make changes to the World Cup to drum up more interest and have approved an increase from 32 teams to 48 from 2026 onwards.

Controversial it may be but at least they recognise change is needed.

The same can be said for our domestic competitions even with the ‘prize’ of a Europa league spot for the League and FA Cup winners.

My own idea for the League Cup would be to open