EFL chief Shaun Harvey has mounted another defence of the controversial Checkatrade Trophy - and also lashed out against critics of the Carabao Cup draw debacle.

The chief executive claimed people were taking "cheap shots" following the decision to hold the League Cup's third round draw in Beijing.

That saw the draw made at 4.15am UK time - yet it wasn't even televised by the host country.

Yet Harvey, in an interview with The Daily Express, said some of those knocking the move were "taking the p***".

He added: "They are not bothering to understand what we are seeking to achieve.

"They assumed we were kowtowing to our sponsors. But while there is no requirement for us to take draws overseas, there is an absolute commitment towards building the value of our competition outside the UK.

"We have signed our first proper overseas sponsor in Carabao [an energy drink firm based in Thailand] in a deal that averages out at £6m-a-year, up from £5m.

"We could just take the money, but want to be a good partner too. This sponsorship means we are also able to get a foothold in Southern Asia for the EFL brand that we had never been able to get to before.

"By holding the draw in China, we were able to get 27 members of the Chinese media together to explain what the EFL was and what our clubs are looking to achieve.

"In addition, we got the opportunity to sit down with four or five potential sponsors associated with Carabao who could bring potential benefits.

"That is not to mention the two or three people who might one day be potential investors in our clubs."

The Checkatrade Trophy, meanwhile, remains a bone of contention among many lower-league supporters over its involvement of Under-21 teams from the top two divisions - branded "B Teams" by critics.

Harvey, though, said the competition that used to be purely for lower-league clubs could help England succeed at future World Cups.

"Every report says that a lack of competitive games for young players is one of the main things hampering their development," he said.

"People still talk about David Beckham starting his career at Preston. Joe Hart was at Shrewsbury, John Stones at Barnsley, Raheem Sterling at QPR."

Sterling did not play a first-team game for QPR before joining Liverpool, while Beckham made just five appearances at Preston whilst on loan from Manchester United.

Harvey added: "We are about creating the best opportunities at our clubs for young players and bringing them to maturity. If England benefits as well, brilliant.

“I guarantee, if we do well in Qatar and at the 2026 World Cup, some of the players will have played in the Checkatrade Trophy."

*Carlisle United have struck a shirt sponsorship deal with Carlisle-based Solar Maintenance Services for their academy teams.

The firm's logo will appear on the playing shirts and training kit of the club's teams from under-8 to under-16.

*Carlisle chairman Andrew Jenkins and former midfielder Les O'Neill represented the club at the funeral of Blues legend Bill Green in Doncaster today.