Chelsea crowned U23 champions after final standings decided
Written by Training Ground Guru — August 7, 2020
CHELSEA have been crowned champions of Premier League 2 Division One after the Premier League voted to determine the final standings of its youth competitions using a points-per-game system.
At the start of May, the Premier League announced that its games programme from Under-9s to U23s was being cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now the League, its shareholders and Academy Managers have decided that the final standings should be decided on a points-per-game basis, meaning that Chelsea, who were top of the U23 league with four games to play, have been crowned champions.
Leicester City were second and Brighton third, with Wolves relegated to Division Two.
West Ham are champions of Premier League 2 Division Two, meaning both they and Manchester United are promoted to the top tier.
Because of the curtailed season, clubs were unable to complete the play-off fixtures and it was agreed that the champions and runners-up would be promoted.
Next season, the three new Category One Academies - Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leeds United - will enter Premier League 2 Division Two. This means Division One will comprise 13 teams and Division 2 will feature 14 teams.
In the U18 Premier League South, Fulham have been crowned champions, while Manchester City won the North title.
City were crowned the overall U18 National champions on points per game and gained qualification for the 2020/21 Uefa Youth League.
Millwall finished top of the Professional Development League South at both U23 and U18 levels, while Nottingham Forest were crowned champions of PDL North. Wigan Athletic are the U18 PDL North winners.
It was agreed that the Premier League International Cup, the Premier League Cup and the U18 Premier League Cup should all be curtailed without a winner.
