According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea's prominent supporter group Not a Project CFC has released a statement sharply criticizing the club's decision to rebrand its academy teams as "Cobham Next Gen," calling the move infuriating, frustrating, and unacceptable.

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.

In its announcement, Chelsea explained that the rebrand reflects the fact that these teams often have a lower average age than their opponents, noting that many 16-year-old players featured in the U18 squad last season. The new name is derived from the club's Cobham training ground.

The U21 side, taken over by Harry Hudson after Callum McFarlane's promotion to the first team in January, topped the Premier League 2 table last season despite being one of the league's youngest squads, but lost to Tottenham in the playoff quarter-finals.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Chelsea Supporters' Trust 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 issued an official statement to publicly register their opposition.

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

In a statement published on social media, the group accused BlueCo ownership of eroding the club's traditions and called on other fan organizations to publicly oppose the decision.

Chelsea was approached for comment.

Part of the statement read: We are angry and frustrated, but sadly unsurprised, that the club has decided to rebrand our U21 and U19 teams as Cobham Next Gen.

This is yet another example of parasitic ownership systematically destroying the identity of this great and historic club.

Cobham Academy is renowned as one of the best in the world, and players typically develop an identity with the club's name as they grow in football. From the moment they enter the academy system, players should be proud to represent that name, not a soulless brand invented by those who hold the club's traditions in contempt.

Übersetzt von KI.

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