However the competition that has been hijacked from the lower division clubs will no doubt continue to be boycotted by many club's supporters (until the day out at Wembley of course).
As a matter of interest does anyone have stats regarding the average attendances for this competition last season v previous seasons?
For this season's tournament Reading have actually been invited up front, along with 15 other Academy sides from the PL and Championship including newcomers Spurs and Man City
In addition League One and League Two clubs will have greater flexibility with regard to team selection, while still maintaining the principle that this is a first team competition for them, which will support the development and progression of young players.
The Group Stage draw will take place next month with the first round of fixtures scheduled to take place in the week commencing Monday 28th August.
The full list of invited Under 21 sides is as follows:
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Chelsea
- Everton
- Fulham
- Leicester City
- Manchester City
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle United
- Reading
- Southampton
- Stoke City
- Sunderland
- Swansea City
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Bromwich Albion
- West Ham United