SWINDON Town head coach Luke Williams is relishing the prospect of his players pitting their wits against Chelsea’s up and coming stars in the EFL Trophy.

The re-vamped competition, which was formerly called the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, has taken a battering by fans of Football League clubs up and down the country.

Many have questioned the reason that academy clubs from the top two tiers have been allowed into the competition, with calls to boycott the games growing louder.

However, Williams remained positive about the competition, with his side set to face one of the biggest Premier League clubs in the competition when they welcome Chelsea’s academy to the County Ground on the week commencing September 12.

With a local derby against Oxford United and a trip to Exeter City also on the cards, Williams is anticipating some enticing games.

“Oxford obviously we know it is going to be blood and thunder so we look forward to that one,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“We’ve got a very strong Chelsea side to play against which will be full of very talented players, possibly a few experienced ones in there.

“I think the rules stipulate they can play a few overage players, so you never know.

“Of course Exeter, just down the road, is going to be a bit of a derby for us as well so some great games for the fans and for the players.”

First team coach Ross Embleton added: “I think we are in a bit of a no-win situation when we play Chelsea.

“If you beat them, you have beaten Chelsea’s U21s, if you lose, you have lost to an U21s team.

“It leaves a really difficult situation for us. Do we make wholesale changes to give people an opportunity?

“I suppose that is something we have got to look at closer to the time.

“I think the Oxford game speaks for itself. I got told what great fixtures those are and now I have got three in one season so it is a real eye-opener.

“Exeter have got a reputation. Paul Tisdale is the longest serving manager in the Football League so he has got a reputation of playing good football.”

Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has moved to allay fears that the appearance of academy sides in the competition is just a step towards an integration of Premier League B teams into the Football League.

“This is the beginning of the end of B teams - this is it,” he said.

“That’s the whole point of it, to be honest. We are absolutely consistent on our view about no B teams in the regular Football League.

“Yes, of course we know some of our clubs would like B teams. We look abroad and we see the benefit of B teams. It’s just for the English football structure and pyramid, it doesn’t work, and so this is it.

“We can console all these worried Football League clubs’ supporters. This isn’t the thin end of the wedge, this is the block. It’s the beginning of the end of it.”