DEREK Power (Sport Letters, January 8) accuses me of knocking a competition just because, by coincidence Blackburn Rovers are in the last four.

I don't recall mentioning Rovers at all when I made my remarks -- after their win against Arsenal reserves and in front of a fanatical 13,000 fans for a quarter final.

As I said, when teams like Tranmere Rovers (now in Division Two), Leicester City and Middlesbrough reach the final of this competition, then that more or less tells you that the big boys can't be bothered.

The Worthington Cup is now a nuisance and the bigger clubs will continue to field reserve and squad players, because they don't want their big name players getting injured in meaningless matches.

I am not saying this because Blackburn Rovers have reached the last four -- it's just a plain fact.

The Worthington Cup is on its last legs. Whether or not it continues in the years to come in its present guise, remains to be seen.

M HIBBERT, Ivan Street, Burnley.