Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Has it lost its gloss?

I guess the real question is: Did it have any gloss about it in the first place?

I get the feeling that in these days of economic austerity, the JPT isn't a competition that is going to have anyone but the most obsessive fan rushing to buy tickets.

The managers - with limited player numbers - are committed to fielding a team, but then must spend 90 minutes sweating over possible injuries that might see the squad depleted for the more important league fixtures ahead. While most will do the honourable thing and pay lip service to the sponsors, I haven't met one yet who really likes the competition ... unless of course they get to Wembley and end up winning it!

Wycombe take on Cheltenham tonight and Gary Waddock, in particular, must be seeing the fixture as an annoyance. His priority is to keep the Chairboys in League Two and an extended cup run in the JPT isn't going to help his cause.

But maybe the competition offers a little more to Cheltenham who are outsiders for a promotion place and far too good an outfit to be relegated. I suspect that FA Cup winners medals are beyond them this year and so maybe the JPT does offer a realistic chance of glory.

From a player's point of view, a medal is a medal and the chance of playing at Wembley is something that most of us mere mortals would kill for, so you can imagine how wonderful it would be for a professional.

The trouble is that you still have to get past the inconvenience of winning other ties to get there and the JPT fixtures - with the best will in the world - don't have quite the same allure or tradition as an FA Cup game for example.

As regular readers will know, both of these teams are on my patch and I really do wish them well and I'll follow every kick ... on the BBC website.