Leeds receive bye in quest for silverware

Sixteen clubs have been given byes in a pre-draw for the first round of this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The full first round draw, with the remaining 32 League One and Two clubs, will take place on Saturday, 11 August.

The northern clubs with byes are Bury, Carlisle, Darlington, Leeds, Lincoln, Port Vale, Rochdale and Stockport.

In the southern section, Barnet, Brighton, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham, Gillingham, Hereford, Milton Keynes Dons and Wycombe will bypass round one.

As per last season, both northern and southern sections will each be further sub-divided into two sections for the first round.

However, the Football League has confirmed that this year, round two - when the 16 first round victors will be joined by the 16 aforementioned clubs with byes - will also be sub-divided.

After that, as in previous years, the northern and southern sections will remain until the winners of each section meet in the final.

The holders are Doncaster, who beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 after extra time at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in April.