TOWN are among 16 clubs handed byes to the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
The draw for the first round is on Saturday, with ties taking place in the first week of September.
The other Northern sides to sit out the first stage are Bury, Carlisle, Chester, Darlington, Lincoln, Rochdale and Rotherham.
In the South it’s Cheltenham, Gillingham, Hereford Luton, holders MK Dons, Peterborough, Walsall and Wycombe who get a free week.
Town have been knocked out in the first round of the competition for the last three seasons.
The club will discover their second-round opponents when the draw is made on Saturday, September 6.
Ties will take place in the week commencing October 6.
