NextGen series suspended for 2013-14 season

Aston Villa U-19 celebrate winning the NextGen Series 2012-13

The NextGen Series has been suspended for the 2013-14 season as it encountered financial trouble, it’s organisers have announced.

The European youth series failed to raise the necessary funding through sponsorship to carry the tournament on to what would have been its 3rd year.

A NextGen statement read: “It is with regret that the NextGen Series has today announced it will be suspending the tournament for one season due to a lack of definite funding. Over the past two seasons NextGen has played a major part in the development of European football and has enjoyed great success with many NextGen players, including Celtic’s Tony Watt, (Aston) Villa’s Gary Gardner and Ajax’s Viktor Fischer progressing to their first teams.”

The NextGen series included 24 top European youth teams and Aston Villa beat Chelsea 2-0 in the final of last season’s competition. A joint statement from the co-founders of the NextGen Series,  Mark Warburton and Justin Andrews, added: “The level of support we have received from the football industry, media and fans has been magnificent and for that we are truly grateful. It is hugely disappointing that an event of this nature, designed to assist with the development of Europe’s elite players, should have to take such action but we hope to be back next season.”

NextGen’s troubles arise after UEFA announced in December that they will launch an U-19 competition which will have close ties to the UEFA Champions League. The UEFA Youth League will consist of the 32 clubs who qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage this season. The U-19 tournament will have the same group stage format as the UEFA Champions League, with matches being played on or around the same dates at grounds close to the Champions League venues when and where it is possible. The draw for the inaugural season is set to be made alongside the Champions League draw on August 29.

The format means that NextGen Series 2012-13 champions Aston Villa will not be able to compete in the UEFA Youth League, as the senior team is not competing in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season.