Ticket sales for Carlisle United's Checkatrade Trophy tie with Blackburn's Under-23 team have yet to hit the three-figure mark, the News & Star understands.

While the idea of including B Teams in the league structure now appears to be off the agenda, their involvement in the trophy remains controversial.

And there is little sign of the EFL 's claimed "rejuvenation" taking effect ahead of Brunton Park's first B Team tie on Tuesday week.

United are closing the Warwick Road End terrace and the Pioneer Foods Stand for home fans because of the expected low crowd, with some supporters threatening to boycott.

Tickets have been on sale since Monday.

The Blues, though, are calling for as much support as possible despite the controversy surrounding the "pilot scheme" experiment.

A United spokesman said: "Tickets have only just gone on sale and are in line with what we would expect at this stage.

"From a club point of view, whatever the circumstance, this is a competitive fixture.

"As was shown at Oldham, the manager and his team will treat it as such.

"We acknowledge the concerns and frustrations of our fans but hope as many people as possible will come along to support us."

The EFL have said that the "Whole Game Solution" proposals, which will be voted on next year, will now not consider B Teams or clubs from non-English leagues in a revamped league pyramid.

Blues manager Keith Curle welcomed this news and suggested a feeder-club system may be a better solution to the problem of big clubs stockpiling young players.

He said: "Probably the way forward would be for Premier League clubs that get the vast amount of monies to adopt the lower league clubs and give us some of their money, and let us produce some of their younger players - sign and use them to progress us, and get as close as we can to them.

"I don't think it would become an official [arrangement], but can we have an association where there are definite links?

"You see some Under-21s and they need games. Is creating a cup competition with three guaranteed games enough?

"Some players we've got have played nigh-on 350-400 games, but there'll be players in academies earning more money, substantially more, but have not kicked a ball in anger.

"That can't be right - kids with good ability not playing games."

Curle also appeared to criticise the way the Elite Player Performance Plan has made it easier for big clubs to poach young talent from clubs like United.

He added: "I still think it's wrong, that clubs can come and take players from our academy and pay a pittance.

"It's an absolute embarrassment that a player we've spotted, scouted, developed, they can take them, put them into their pool of players, and if they turn out to be players, ok, but if not, it's no loss or hardship to them.

"But it is for us, if we lose a 13-14-year-old who in a few years' time could be playing in our first team and progressing us as a football club, and us getting rewards selling them on.

"Is a club going to gamble £20,000 for a kid at 13 or 14, with the millions they've got? Of course they are."