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Chelsea fans plan to protest Ricketts’ takeover of club ahead of Brentford clash | Football news


Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said its members “have neither support nor confidence in” the Ricketts family’s attempt to buy the club, as they planned to protest at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

CST conducted a survey of its members, with 77% of the respondents stating that they do not support Ricketts’ attempt to buy Chelsea.

Chicago Cubs owner Ricketts is one of four finalists aiming to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich. Cubs frontmen and siblings Tom and Laura Ricketts stand by the family’s candidacy to take over the west London club.

Chelsea fans have staged a protest against Ricketts’ candidacy that comes ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at home with rivals Brentford in west London.

Father Joe Ricketts, who had no role at the Cubs or in the bid to buy Chelsea, used Islamic language in emails sent between 2009 and 2013 that were leaked in 2019. Then the man the 80-year-old man apologized.

Chelsea fans have repeatedly expressed concerns on social media, and now CST has added weight to those worries.

“It is now clear that our members neither support nor trust the Ricketts family’s bid for the club,” read a CST statement. “This reflects broader concerns expressed by large, vocal sections of Chelsea’s fan base.

Chicago Cubs owner Thomas S Ricketts has also filed an offer to take over Chelsea
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Chicago Cubs owner, Thomas S Ricketts, has filed an offer to take over Chelsea

“The CST Board of Directors is guided by our members, and therefore we do not currently believe it is in the best interest of our members to make the Ricketts family successful effort.

“We await further public details from the Ricketts family regarding the specific steps they will take to address the well-documented concerns of Chelsea supporters.

“If the Ricketts publicly sets out a clear and detailed plan for how they address support concerns, we may re-survey our members over the next week.”

Tom Ricketts has been building bridges with the Muslim community in Chicago since his father’s email emerged in 2019 and continues to apologize for his father’s comments.

Ricketts has been adding consulting partners to refine their bids ahead of the April 11 deadline for improved offers, but their bids are understood to be fully cash-funded. .

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Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol has revealed that the Ricketts family are among the potential bidders on Chelsea’s shortlist.

Hedge fund Supremo has added his considerable personal financial influence behind Ricketts’ acquisition of Chelsea.

Blues supporters continue to raise concerns about Ricketts’ bid to buy the club, however, those issues have crystallized in the CST survey.

“Last week, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust announced that the Ricketts family must urgently and publicly address their supporter’s concerns – in particular regarding inclusion, both previous and recent statements by supporters. family member,” reads the CST statement.

“We are also committed to surveying our members about their confidence and support in the Ricketts family’s bid for Chelsea FC.

A ground worker adjusts the table of the upcoming match ahead of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Sunday, March 13, 2022
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Chelsea face Brentford on Saturday

“Yesterday, we conducted a quick survey of our membership. We asked our membership that, based on information in the public domain as of April 1, they trust the Ricketts family to run a well-rounded and successful club, and we asked if they supported the Ricketts family’s bid.

“Our members have sent a clear message in this regard: 72% of respondents currently do not believe the Ricketts family will run a well-rounded and successful club, with 5% of respondents. respondents believe they can.

“Similarly, 77% of respondents do not support the Ricketts family’s bid for Chelsea FC and 3% of respondents support it.

“It is important that the new owners of Chelsea FC gain the trust of the fans and demonstrate an understanding of the values ​​we stand for.”

Chelsea fans held banners for Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
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Chelsea fans still hang banners for Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge

Abramovich sold Chelsea on March 2 in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 55-year-old was subsequently sanctioned by the UK Government and then the EU, with Downing Street claiming to have proven his connection to Vladimir Putin.

Chelsea has been granted a special license by the Government to continue operating, albeit on strict terms. Abramovich was unable to profit from the sale of Chelsea, but has vowed to write off the club’s £1.5 billion debt.

Part-owner of the LA Dodgers, Todd Boehly and British businessman Jonathan Goldstein, Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Sebastian Coe, the Ricketts family that owns the Chicago Cubs and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, Stephen Pagliuca are the four remaining contenders. again.





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