Chelsea fan group Not a Project CFC has issued a statement condemning the club's decision to rebrand its U21 and U19 academy teams as "Cobham Next Gen," calling it "infuriating, disappointing and unacceptable," according to the Evening Standard.

Chelsea announced on Tuesday that from the 2026/27 season, the U21 and U19 teams will compete under the name "Cobham Next Gen," abbreviated as CNG.

Chelsea stated that the rebrand reflects the fact that the average age of these squads is often younger than their competitors', noting that many 16-year-old players featured in the U18 team last season. The new name derives from the club's training base in Cobham.

The U21 team, led by Harry Hudson following Callum McFarland's promotion to the first team in January, finished first in Premier League 2 Division 1 last season despite being one of the youngest squads in the league, but lost to Tottenham in the playoff semi-final for promotion.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Chelsea's official supporters' club was not consulted before the rebrand was officially confirmed.

The move has already drawn widespread criticism from supporters, and Not a Project CFC has now formally published a statement making their opposition public.

Not a Project CFC organized protests against Chelsea's ownership ahead of several matches last season, including the FA Cup final. They also joined with disaffected supporters of Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg to stage demonstrations.

Chelsea was approached for comment.

Part of the statement reads: We are outraged and disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised by the club's decision to rebrand our U21 and U19 teams as Cobham Next Gen.

This is yet another example of parasitic owners systematically stripping away the identity of this great and historic club.

Cobham Academy is renowned as one of the finest in the world, and players develop a connection with the club's name as they progress through football. From the moment they enter the academy system, players should take pride in representing this name, not a soulless brand concocted by those who have no respect for the club's traditions.

Переведено ИИ.

Сайт AF теперь доступен! Читайте полные новости, комментарии, детали матчей и статистику на компьютере. Посетите: www.allfootballapp.com