A LOWER-LEAGUE club boss called for protests today over the decision to scrap all FA Cup replays and warned the Premier League will “strangle” the pyramid without a strong independent regulator.

Replays have been abolished from the first round onwards from next season as part of a minimum six-year agreement between the FA and the Premier League.

The matches have long been a part of FA Cup tradition — with the first replayed final taking place in 1875 — and have in some cases been highly lucrative for lower-league clubs.