SUFFOLK County FA are to try to ensure that ties in the LB Group Suffolk Premier Cup are not pre-drawn in the future.The county's competitions committee have reacted to criticism of this season's quarter-final ties being drawn before the majority of the first-round matches had taken place.

SUFFOLK County FA are to try to ensure that ties in the LB Group Suffolk Premier Cup are not pre-drawn in the future.

The county's competitions committee have reacted to criticism of this season's quarter-final ties being drawn before the majority of the first-round matches had taken place.

The draw was held on Saturday, October 10, at the same time as the Suffolk Senior Cup second round was drawn following that afternoon's first-round ties.

Suffolk County FA were criticised by Green 'Un blogger Nick Garnham in an article on www.greenun24.co.uk entitled 'Suffolk FA are killjoys!' which was posted on October 15.

He wrote: “All bar one tie - Debenham LC v Bury Town which was played last week - were scheduled for this week, and yet the draw was held live on Radio Suffolk on Saturday tea-time!

“Since Ipswich Town re-entered the competition has had added interest in that a potential tie against the county's professional club has guaranteed one lucky team each round that Ipswich have remained in the competition a memorable night and a bumper pay day.

“So imagine the groans of disappointment around the county when that prospect was whisked away from all bar Haverhill Rovers or Newmarket Town before they had even kicked a ball in earnest in this season's competition.

“And besides missing out on that possibility, other clubs may have entered their first round ties with, shall we say, a different attitude knowing who their potential opponents were going to be if they got through.

“Now I know Suffolk FA will say the draw was held simultaneously with the Suffolk Senior Cup out of convenience after their first-round matches which took place on Saturday, but is that really fair on the teams in the county's 'premier' competition?”

Martin Head, chief executive of Suffolk County FA, said yesterday that the matter had been discussed at the county's competitions committee meeting last week.

He said: “Suffolk County FA sympathise with what has been said, and if we can we will try to operate on the basis that ties are not pre-drawn in the future.”