The Football League are still to decide on when Town will enter this season's Worthington Cup. A League spokesman told TWTD this morning that a decision will be made by the end of the month but that it was "very unlikely" that the Blues would enter at the first round stage.

Town's UEFA Cup qualification has caused a headache for League bosses due to the club's First Division status. No provision has been made in the Worthington Cup's rules for Nationwide League clubs qualifying for Europe.

As a Division One side the Blues would be due to begin their challenge in the first round, but the combination of European and Worthington Cup games would create major early season fixture congestion as the club begin their assault on the Nationwide League.

Discussions are currently continuing between the Football League, Town and the Premier League with various scenarios on the table.

One possibility is that the Blues will get one of the eight seeded places in round three, however this depends on the fortunes of Aston Villa and Fulham in the Intertoto Cup. Seven of those places have already been claimed by sides in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

Should Villa and Fulham both qualify for the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto route then Villa, who finished higher in the Premiership, would get the one remaining bye to round three with Fulham starting in round two.

If Fulham alone go through then they would begin their Worthington Cup campaign at round three. Only if both fail could Town then start their challenge at that stage.

However, even then this is by no means certain as that place normally reverts to the side finishing highest in the Premiership who failed to qualify for Europe, in this case West Ham. This is one of the matters being discussed with the Premier League.

The most likely outcome appears to be Town entering the competition's second round with a final decision expected over the next few weeks.

A Football League spokesman told TWTD this morning: "We are speaking to all parties at the moment and a decision will have to be made by the end of the month. The draw will be held in early August.

"It is highly unlikely that Ipswich will be playing in the first round of the Worthington Cup."

Last season Town, as a Premiership club in the UEFA Cup, were one of the eight sides which received a bye to round three. There they beat Crewe 3-2 at Gresty Road before bowing out at St James' Park, Newcastle in round four.

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