FOR once Arsene Wenger hit the nail on the head when he said that the Worthington Cup is just not worthy.

After the 4-0 quarter-final defeat by Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Tuesday the Gunners' French opined that the European qualification place that goes with success in the competition should be removed and given to the side finishing sixth in the Premiership - a side who had earned it over a season.

Given certain clubs' attitude to the Worthington Cup sending the winners into Europe is not exactly ensuring England will have a quality representative.

While fans of Rovers, Tottenham and Chelsea will rightly be looking forward to the semi-finals and the possibility of a place at the Millennium Stadium, surely all of them must realise that it is little more than a sideshow.

The euphoria of some Rovers fans yesterday, though understandable, was a little inflated.

Yes they beat Arsenal 4-0, but it was a Gunners side that had only Kanu, Wiltord and Keown of genuine international class - quite simply Rovers beat the ressies.

Great for Rovers, but this was a quarter-final and the side Wenger turned out showed the contempt in which he holds the cup.

Arsenal are not the only ones, Manchester United have frequently fielded second teams in their ties and this season Burnley rested key men to give fringe players a run - though they paid the price by losing to third division Rushden and Diamonds.

If the big guns don't like the tournament interfering with their European commitments then let them go.

And if the League Cup is to be kept, shear off the top six Premiership teams off, then merge it with the LDV Vans competition, include the Conference sides to give it some spice and finally don't give the winners a backdoor to Europe - that is what the Intertoto Cup is for?