Supporters may boycott the new Carshalton Athletic strip after the football club decided its signature colours were “unattractive to young people”.

The Robins will end at least 50 years of tradition next season by wearing red jerseys in a departure from their fetching maroon and white.

Over the past week fans have overwhelmed internet forums with complaints that the identity of the Ryman Premier League club is being sacrificed for commercial greed.

Jennie Ducker, a staunch supporter aged 18, said: “Personally, I like maroon and white because it’s an unusual contrast and sums up the Robins.

"I don’t find it an old colour, I find it different.

“There are too many teams wearing red, why do we have to do the same? We've been fine for the past 100 years.

“I totally disagree with the statement that maroon isn’t an attractive colour for young people.

"I've seen many young people wearing scarves and buying the kits, would they do this if they didn’t find the kit attractive?”

The club said a change of shirt colour would allow a broader range of merchandise to be sold through the club shop and website, increasing income.

It has also been proposed to put up a plaque and run special edition shirts bearing the old club badge, which is being abolished.

Last week manager Hayden Bird said: “I do not want to disrespect the supporters in any way, but they seem to take everything to the absolute extreme.

“You would think the club is on the brink of collapse the way they are going on on the forums.

“All it is is a colour change - I’m not sure what these fans do for a living but I wish that was the biggest problem of my life.”

Supporters seeing red may eventually welcome the kit change, planned for July.

Last year scientists at Durham and Plymouth University analysed 60 years of football matches and concluded that teams with red kits win more matches.

• What do you think about the changing of the colours? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.