CRYSTAL PALACE, Grimsby Town and now Doncaster Rovers and Shrewsbury Town.

What do they have in common? All entered the South West Challenge Cup but cut short their stay in North Devon.

It is safe to say it was not the lack of a warm welcome that caused them to hotfoot it back down the Link Road.

In 2008, Palace blamed injuries. Last year, Grimsby pulled out on the eve of the final when they were unable to get the kick-off time moved.

Last week, Doncaster, of the Npower Championship, went home soon after losing 5-0 to non-league Havant and Waterlooville for a trio of reasons: injuries, the three substitutions rule and not liking the idea of playing a semi-final and final on consecutive days.

That prospect was also too much for Shrewsbury, for whom the substitution of substitute Kevin McIntyre in the semi-final win over Havant and Waterlooville was an injury too far, so they conceded their place in the final.

As a result, Blackpool had already won the cup before what should have been a showpiece occasion at the Sports Ground on Sunday. Fortunately they fought back from 2-0 down to beat Havant 3-2, otherwise the losing captain would have been picking up the cup.

The feeling remains that some clubs taking part just don't share the organisers' view that the event is a competitive tournament. They are more concerned with the long league and cup campaigns to come.

Graham Turner, the Shrewsbury manager, said: "I apologise if there is any disappointment for supporters who are down here but this tournament will be forgotten in a few weeks' time."

Quite why the schedule comes as such a surprise to the clubs is anyone's guess, but Sean O'Driscoll, the Doncaster manager, seemed to sum up the prevailing view.

He said: "If we played four games in seven days in any other period of the season, then people would be saying what a difficult position it is, so why do it in pre-season?"

After Sunday's match against Havant, Ian Holloway, the Blackpool manager, asked: "Do you have to have a final and do you definitely call it a tournament? I would look at maybe calling it a friendly bonanza."

Holloway's suggestion would ease the workload for the teams and, with all the fixtures known in advance, possibly improve ticket sales.

According to Mike Bradshaw, the tournament director, attendances were up "between 20 and 22 per cent" on last year. But the crowds for the semi-finals and final were disappointing.

It was the big group one game between Blackpool and Kilmarnock, which fans could pick out in advance as the one to be at, which attracted a crowd of almost 2,000.

But Bradshaw remains committed to staging a tournament rather than a series of friendlies and to having semi-finals and a final on consecutive days.

"I would like to separate them," he said. "But I still feel that if the squad is big enough, they can do that (play twice in two days).

"We will start a day earlier (next year). The teams will arrive on the Saturday and play (group games on) Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, with a day of rest in between.

"We will sacrifice at least one team. The maximum is 12.

"There may come a case where the number of clubs is shortened (further).Provided we improve the quality, that is probably the way to go."

While Blackpool did not win any game by more than one goal, they are likely to be the last Barclays Premier League club to be invited to take part.

"To get games as close to each other in terms of competitiveness, we probably wouldn't want another Premier League side," said Bradshaw. "It does distort the whole thing."

Six clubs are committed to taking part next year. "Our understanding is that the managers who were here and are committed to the tournament, think it's good and think it's pretty important to have it on the playing agenda," said Bradshaw.

The biggest hope for next year's tournament is that there are no controversies to overshadow the entertaining football.

This year brought 76 goals, the classy passing of Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, the mazy runs of Kilmarnock's Mehdi Taouil and the clean striking of Havant's Mustafa Tiryaki.

Ideally, that would have been what North Devon football fans were talking about, rather than trying to spot the 'substitute' sent on in disguise.

● What are your views on the tournament? Comment at www.thisisnorth devon.co.uk or e-mail sportsdesk@ northdevonjournal.co.uk.