The chairman of Newcastle City Juniors has defended their affiliation with Chelsea and says it can only increase opportunities for aspiring footballers in the North East.
Sportsmail revealed on Friday that the west London club have forged a link with City Juniors, who are based just three miles from Newcastle United’s St James’ Park.
This has led to some Newcastle supporters questioning why their club has allowed a Premier League rival to tap into talent on their patch.
But Chelsea have not broken any rules - as long as no money is exchanged and players are not approached before the age of 14 - and City Juniors boss Steve Chambers believes only positives can come from the arrangement.