The controversal Checkatrade Trophy is to retain it's Group Stage format and invitation of Tier 1 Academy sides for another two years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39895497Three significant changes of rule are League 1/2 clubs can select any goalkeeper and a minimum of 4 1st team qualified players, invited teams play all matches away from home and regionalised matches are played up until the Quarter-Final round.
Nice to see commonsense being applied to team selection criteria for League 1/2 sides, where senior players are classed as a 1st team player regardless of how many appearances made in the starting xi during the season.
Though if there are a number of Premier League clubs not fielding a team in the Checkatrade Trophy, I would like to see a couple or so Welsh Premier League sides make up the numbers and add give the competition some form of 1st team context.