Feature: Why Chelsea's corruption of the Checkatrade Trophy could be a good thing

“Johnstone's Paint Trophy, you'll never win that,” is the slightly tongue-in-cheek barb that Southampton fans like to sing at those from so called 'bigger' clubs who visit St Mary's.

As the most recent member of the Premier League's moneyed club to win the competition for lower league clubs (Swansea, Stoke and Bournemouth have all been there too, if you go back far enough), it is a reminder of days before they hit the big time.

Now Chelsea are in with a one-in-four chance of joining those ranks: and it won't be popular should it happen.

Checkatrade follow the paint vendors, and various different small industrial van makers, in adding their brand to what was originally known as the Associate Members' Cup (latterly the EFL Trophy).

And that's the reason for the controversy at Chelsea's involvement.

The Football League (or EFL as it is now branded) agreed, starting last season, to allow the development sides of Premier League clubs to participate in a competition previously reserved for those in the third and fourth tiers of the national sport.

A competition conceived as an opportunity for those lower down the footballing hierarchy to have their day out at Wembley has been hijacked by the cash of the Premier League.

'For the good of the game' is an excuse that has been rolled-out for all manner of ills in the modern history of football.

But while retaining a huge degree of sympathy for sides such as Barnsley and Oxford United, who contested the last EFL Trophy final under its classic rules in front of 59,000+ fans, the Checkatrade experience has shown real benefit for some.

Chelsea, like other top sides, have long complained at the lack of any footballing bridge between youth level and their own first teams.

By allowing 'development' teams into the Checkatrade, the opportunity is provided where these youngsters can be tested against seasoned pros from the lower leagues. And the experience of boss Joe Edwards' young Chelsea side is a case in point. They looked overly naïve, and out of their depth during last season's group stage games.

Games they controlled early-on were lost in late capitulations, as their legs wore out; and a lack of footballing worldliness saw them easily brushed aside by the more finely honed gamesmanship of their senior competitors. Both of those aspects had long been considered flaws of many youth sides. But this season, things are different.

The example against opponents Oxford United, runners up in both of last two finals (last April to Coventry City, in front of almost 75,000), is a case in point.

In November 2016 the sides met at Stamford Bridge in the competition: ending in a 1-1 draw, and then Chelsea just getting the upper hand in a record 34-penalty shootout. Last week they clashed again and, although Oxford were managerless, the young blues cantered to a 3-0 win.

The improvement is clear. And when Chelsea come up against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank, in next week's one-off semi-final, they have a great chance of making Wembley. Should that happen, public feeling against Chelsea's corruption of the competition will be huge – and the reasons for that will be understandable.

What do the lower league sides get from it?

The opportunity to play more technically able (if less professionally experienced) sides; and the chance to take a few of those players, greatly improved by the experience, on loan as part of their development no doubt.

Plus, should this Frankenstein's Monster of a tournament ever become widely socially acceptable, maybe a bit of gate money too.

It's not a hugely persuasive argument to many, but both the League Cup and the Champions League took some tinkering before fans really took them to their hearts.

But quite valid sentiment aside, Chelsea's ascendancy will be an indication that the format has succeeded: that a young side has managed to equip itself with the skills and ability required to do battle with, and beat the big boys.

Checkatrade Trophy, you'll never win that? Maybe Chelsea supporters are about to get themselves a new song.