Roman Abramovich plans to sell Chelsea | SOLD for £4.25BN

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Actually around the super league time I made systematic posts about the football league pyramid and how inflation (which yes part of it was down to our ownership) has shut off the dream for many clubs. I have a soft spot for a town I use to live in (Plymouth, get to that in a minute) so I can firmly see things from both angles. The reason I struggled to join in the outrage (which in my opinion was only as ferocious as it was because Gary Neville whipped the country into a frenzy on almost certainly the orders of his employers) was because in my opinion the PL and UCL are both super leagues in all but name.

The worst thing for the pyramid was the TV money and parachute payments. Granted it was a by-product of the Fizsman, Roman, Sheikh etc using their resources to propel their respective sides to titles and improve the PL brand but not one club decided to take a stand against such inflation of 'reward' money.

It means the likes of Norwich and Fulham can just get relegated and buy promotion again without breaking sweat (£180m is the "reward" for finishing bottom). In 2007 Colchester United made a genuine push for the Championship play off narrowly missing out, three years later Blackpool actually went two better and made the big time. That route is now cut off for clubs like that barring extraordinarily good coaching and about 1000 other things falling neatly into place. Look at this years Championship table as a reference point, utterly dominated by recent PL clubs. Two of the clubs relegated the season before last bounced straight back and the other is almost certain to follow suit this season (alongside a team relegated last campaign). None of those clubs are particularly well run yet because of the parachute payments they don't need to be to outmuscle most of that league.

I know someone connected to Plymouth and pre TV money they believe the plan and structure they now have in place would have got them to the top flight, now they'll settle for just being a mid table Championship club because they simply cannot compete with the teams yo yoing off TV money.

People slate clubs down the bottom for binning the cups to focus on avoid relegation but look at two that didn't, Birmingham and Wigan, they went down the same season they won a domestic Cup and it was at a very bad time (with reward money slowly becoming very prominent) and probably won't see the light of the top flight again in our lifetime.

Good post & the first paragraph is exactly why I also found the outrage of the Super League quite funny. If we go through how many teams have won the EPL since it’s inauguration it’s a rather small/elite group & it’s in effect a bunch of domestic Super clubs. Leicester somewhat an outlier of course.

What I do take issue with is ‘the worst’ statement. TV Money in itself isn’t the issue but as you tackle later on the parachute structure in place rewards failure. That said, how is that anymore damaging than an oligarch giving a club a £1.5bil loan they never have to pay back simply because, PR. I genuinely think that’s more damaging as it can’t be collectively bargained. As you said no club took a stand against reward money but in effect it’s something you can change whereas you’ve effectively been given 7/8 parachute payments + any actual competition payments you’ve seen in the process.

I actually don’t have a problem with what your club did, it broke the United dominance & gave new breath to the competition so it’s easy to see why people turned a blind eye. What I do have a massive issue with are people normalising the financial doping that has taken place, ‘we’re self sustainable’ well yes with a £1.5bil debt/loan you’re not asked to service.

You’ve obviously faced similar points before as a Chelsea fan so all those points are right, there are other issues in the game but what Chelsea were allowed to do hasn’t just set the game back it’s broken it. I’m reminded of the Ashley Cole transfer, not only does it inflate wages it destabilised a rival in a way unlike a bosman transfer. You’ve then got Jon Obi-Mikel’s fiasco of a transfer. It’s was rather unsavoury early on.

 

[Adnan]

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[giggs-beckham]

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Hes a cool guy. She comes across a moron

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

She comes across a moron

Harsh.

 

[RedSky]

It would’ve been better if they let him sell the club and donate the profits. At least that would have helped those in Ukraine. Sanctions are stupid as they literally will not affect Roman, he is a multi billionaire, he will not care about making his money back and will have no issue leaving the club. The issue is that it affects the fans, the community, the players and employees who have nothing else other than the club.

You actually believe Roman?

He profited on knowing Russia was planning on invading Ukraine. This is a man that gives absolutely zero and I mean ZERO fecks about Ukraine, it's all PR. All he gives a shit about is money and making more money. Ignore the rainbows farting out of the guys mouth, he could very well have pocketed all of the money and ran back to Russia. At least this way the Government are taking action and by taking Chelsea away (valued at 3.2 billion dollars) that's 25% of his worth. Now I imagine if Russia decided to take 25% of your savings you'd be fecking pissed. I imagine he and Putin will be pissed, objective complete. Now if the Government truly did give a shit about Ukraine, they would take a decent percentage of the future sale of Chelsea and allocate that to the refugees of Ukraine. You'd hope that would happen, but it's the Tories so feck knows.

It's a shame that the community, players and employees will suffer a little bit of frustration at this time. But it could be worse, they could be stuck in Mariupol. Some perspective is needed right now.

 

[Chicharito_]

Am I the only one that thinks Chelsea will be absolutely fine? They will come to some agreement with the Government that will let them finish the season and then Roman will sell the club in the summer.

 

[Tarrou]

feel sorry for them, hope this helps

https://www.airbnb.com.au/lille-france/stays

 

[VidaRed]

Now ban city and newcastle.

The saudis are bombing yemen also without any justifiable reason whatsoever.

 

[Grande]

Hes a cool guy. She comes across a moron

Hm. Wonder who she came across?

 

[Someone]

Our opposition fans are going to have some fun now. But they will have to deal with the depression of finishing lower than a team that has had to go through this eventually.

On the contrary, this is the only bit of possible fun we could have this season. What else is there to enjoy.

 

[WeePat]

Hm. Wonder who she came across?

Yeah it was a bit harsh on the interviewer I thought

 

[WeePat]

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[P-Ro]

Hes a cool guy. She comes across a moron

How dare she have a working class London accent.

 

[Adnan]

French journo, Phillipe Auclair thinks Chelsea could go under if the British Government applies sanctions fully.

 

[Someone]

Am I the only one that thinks Chelsea will be absolutely fine? They will come to some agreement with the Government that will let them finish the season and then Roman will sell the club in the summer.

The future of Chelsea depends entirely on what type of owners they'll get, but yeah doubt that the current drama will last for long.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

French journo, Phillipe Auclair thinks Chelsea could go under if the British Government applies sanctions fully.

But we already know the government isn't applying the sanctions fully? If they were then Chelsea wouldn't be allowed to carry on playing matches - hence the exemption they've been granted.

 

[Adnan]

But we already know the government isn't applying the sanctions fully? If they were then Chelsea wouldn't be allowed to carry on playing matches - hence the exemption they've been granted.

He thinks you'll either go under or be left in a very bad financial state the longer the current sanctions hover over the club.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

He thinks you'll either go under or be left in a very bad financial state the longer the current sanctions hover over the club.

Oh that I don't doubt. The main question is whether Abramovich is willing to write off all sale proceeds (as he claimed he would a week ago) and thus not contest any sale legally. He's long claimed to love the club - if he truly does then he should walk away ASAP.

 

[Adnan]

Oh that I don't doubt. The main question is whether Abramovich is willing to write off all sale proceeds (as he claimed he would a week ago) and thus not contest any sale legally. He's long claimed to love the club - if he truly does then he should walk away ASAP.

I agree mate.

 

[Smithy89]

Good to see their fans still living up to the Chelsea reputation, classy lot.

 

[AussieDevil]

You actually believe Roman?

He profited on knowing Russia was planning on invading Ukraine. This is a man that gives absolutely zero and I mean ZERO fecks about Ukraine, it's all PR. All he gives a shit about is money and making more money. Ignore the rainbows farting out of the guys mouth, he could very well have pocketed all of the money and ran back to Russia. At least this way the Government are taking action and by taking Chelsea away (valued at 3.2 billion dollars) that's 25% of his worth. Now I imagine if Russia decided to take 25% of your savings you'd be fecking pissed. I imagine he and Putin will be pissed, objective complete. Now if the Government truly did give a shit about Ukraine, they would take a decent percentage of the future sale of Chelsea and allocate that to the refugees of Ukraine. You'd hope that would happen, but it's the Tories so feck knows.

It's a shame that the community, players and employees will suffer a little bit of frustration at this time. But it could be worse, they could be stuck in Mariupol. Some perspective is needed right now.

He owns too many assets in the UK to make a claim like that and not follow through. Chelsea is still his club now and unless they go bankrupt he will still end up selling and profiting regardless. But once the hype surrounding the war subsides, he will feel less pressure to make any donation, if not just remain as the owner.

Unfortunately we’ve seen it countless times, once the media laches onto the next big crisis people will slowly lose interest in the Russia/Ukraine war.

 

[yumtum]

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If there ever was a profile for a Chelsea fan, this would be it.

Hey looks a right slimey cnut - sorry Wepat.

 

[zedian]

Now ban city and newcastle.

The saudis are bombing yemen also without any justifiable reason whatsoever.

Couldn't agree more..

 

[caid]

Give the club to fangroups. 51% of shares to them 49% sold on open market with proceeds going to ukranian refugees. Tell abramovich to eat shit on loans to club. A good outcome to everyone that matters.

 

[Dargonk]

Very interesting time to be a Chelsea fan. Got to feel sorry for the fans and players themselves, but it's something that had to happen to the club based on everything that is going on over there. It will be interesting to see what happens now, and how everything is handled.

 

[Bluelion7]

Well Roman is now a majority shareholder in Evraz, the steel company who’s supplying it to the military for the tanks and vehicles, he transferred his shares directly to himself from an offshore company 8 days before the Ukraine invasion. For the government that’s absolutely black and white in terms of being directly involved with the Ukraine war.

He owns a decent percentage. He is far and away not the majority shareholder. And after apparently debunking the story they are providing materials for Russian tanks, the irony is that they are primarily being suspended from trading for their association with Roman, not for anything they did. They are not on the sanctioned business list.
So … Roman is in trouble for owning shares in a company that is only in trouble because they are associated with him?
I love circles, but that’s a bit ridiculous.

 

[Bluelion7]

The Saudi’s are pals with Putin too, right?

Yes. As I pointed out in my “hypocrisy” post: the crown prince has given several meetings to Putin, denied meetings with Western leaders, and is supporting Russia complicity in a way they understand and are ok with.

but hey, they can own football teams, because they aren’t ethnically Russian? They give more money to the right people?

The other day, before the ludicrous singing, Boris asked “do we really want to live in a world where a private citizen can simply have everything they own seized without due process or justification?”
He made that statement specifically in regards to Roman, and he is privy to the highest levels of intelligence in the world. I get it has reached a PR level to where that doesn’t matter anymore, but then people who ACTUALLY support the invasion should be out as well.

 

[Jippy]

The rise of the oligarchs and wholesale theft of entire industries from the Russian economy by this cabal of crooks was repellent. I can't help also hating Boris Johnson and his government grandstanding over this though, when they've been taken Russian backhanders for years and are equally corrupt.

 

[Bluelion7]

The rise of the oligarchs and wholesale theft of entire industries from the Russian economy by this cabal of crooks was repellent. I can't help also hating Boris Johnson and his government grandstanding over this though, when they've been taken Russian backhanders for years and are equally corrupt.

But see… that ISNT what happened with Roman. The assets of the Soviet Union needed to be privatized. WE (the US, UK, think tanks from groups like Harvard) felt it was important the assets be owned by Russians, not people from the outside with money carving it up. So we instituted a program where you would qualify for a loan based on criteria WE set, and you would use those loans to buy shares. Roman was an excellent candidate , and under Yeltsin this program worked at least marginally well.
The theft didn’t come until Putin took over and began forcing those people, like Roman, to sell.
Oligarch would imply people in the decision making circle. Just being rich and of Russian origin doesn’t make you one.

 

[Tarrou]

Give the club to fangroups. 51% of shares to them 49% sold on open market with proceeds going to ukranian refugees. Tell abramovich to eat shit on loans to club. A good outcome to everyone that matters.

I don’t think anyone would buy 49% of Chelsea

It’s not an investment, so kinda pointless to own that much and not have control

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

Am I the only one that thinks Chelsea will be absolutely fine? They will come to some agreement with the Government that will let them finish the season and then Roman will sell the club in the summer.

I think it will be sold before the summer. I'd say it has to be sold very soon, or we're fecked. I do also anticipate some of the sanctions will be eased, in terms of football club operations. How theyd work it out? Not sure

I could foresee a scenario where Nick Candy comes on board along with Wyss and Boehly, and they get us for significantly less than 3bn [i still think theyre favourites to buy us]. Given Nick Candy has property development background. Was also talk of the 3rd investor with Wyss and Boehly being Stephen Ross who owns the Dolphins, or Mark Walter who is involved with the dodgers and sparks, alongside Boehly.

 

[Jippy]

But see… that ISNT what happened with Roman. The assets of the Soviet Union needed to be privatized. WE (the US, UK, think tanks from groups like Harvard) felt it was important the assets be owned by Russians, not people from the outside with money carving it up. So we instituted a program where you would qualify for a loan based on criteria WE set, and you would use those loans to buy shares. Roman was an excellent candidate , and under Yeltsin this program worked at least marginally well.
The theft didn’t come until Putin took over and began forcing those people, like Roman, to sell.
Oligarch would imply people in the decision making circle. Just being rich and of Russian origin doesn’t make you one.

Whether they needed to be privatised or not is a matter opinion, not fact, but whichever way you dress it up, small handful of businessmen were able to hoover up assets and become multibillionaires. Abramovich may well be a very astute businessman but even his most ardent champions can't deny he has a few skeletons in his closet.
Boris Johnson thinking he's Churchill on the world stage will always piss me, particularly when Russian influence helped sway Brexit, which was a big event in him becoming leader.

 

[bringbackbebe]

I don’t think anyone would buy 49% of Chelsea

It’s not an investment, so kinda pointless to own that much and not have control

Indeed. It's an unprofitable venture that's more of a sugar daddy play toy than a real business. Anyone paying 3b will have very poor value. The best case scenario I see are some cocked up venture capitalists having no idea of football taking over Chelsea in a leveraged buy out, loading the club with real debt for paying over the odds.

 

[Nk9]

After having some time to digest what happened., from the UK government's perspective ....these may have been the considerations.

1. If the UK government has evidence for Roman's culpability, (even if the evidence is purely circumstantial) he had to be sanctioned. Anything less and the government would be heavily criticized.
2. Roman is clearly the low hanging fruit and possibly the easiest target as he's both high profile but not as much that Putin and Russia would see this as a provocation.
3. Roman was expecting to be sanctioned but not this quickly. Because he was expecting the club to be sanctioned as well, he put the club on sale.

At this point, if the UK government had sanctioned Roman but left the club alone, would Roman still have sold us? Viz., what incentive would he have to go ahead with the sale.So the UK government had no option but to include the club in some way in these sanctions.Their calculation may have been this.

1. A ton of fans hate us anyway. So this would actually be a very popular decision.
2. But if the sanctions had stopped the club from competing altogether, this could spell a disaster for the PL. It also sets a precedent that city, new castle etc can be potentially stopped from competing too in the future making PL very unstable.
3. This may even make the decision unpopular too. Rival fans with a modicum of common sense would have viewed the punishment too harsh not to mention the backlash from Chelsea fans.
4. Not to mention the court cases and suits the government may end up facing from the club.

So the UK government had to include us and sanction us harsh enough to force Roman to sell quickly but not to such an extent that it affects our ability to compete.
If they had punished us too lightly, this may have removed any incentive that Roman had toward selling us.
The current license and the restrictions are essentially meant to squeeze us as much as they can so that Roman will have an incentive to conclude the sale quickly.
The 20K travel restriction for example, clearly means that we have a month or so by which time, traveling in Europe will become an issue., -- > Incentive to sell.
A few months of this also means loss of sponsors and possibly players., drastically reducing our market value and hurting Roman's legacy.

So while all this is understandable, hope common sense prevails. Restrictions on staff and player wages etc should be lifted after negotiations with the club personnel.

If Roman agrees to sell, can see these restrictions being lifted immediately.Roman may well take the message, and agree for a quick sell while insisting that he gets to decide the sale price or the buyer. Which may end up requiring negotiation.

 

[::sonny::]

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Even without Chelsea I don’t see United getting the 4th place honestly

 

[AdamColeBebe]

The club is prohibited from buying and selling players, also prohibited renewing players' contracts under these sanctions.

Wowzers

 

[Beans]

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There’s nothing about Chelsea not finishing the season in that article.

 

[crossy1686]

We can't sell anyone even if we wanted to.

There's three players out of contract but I don't think that qualifies as a mass exodus.

You can let players go though. It will be interesting to see who tries to get out of their contracts in the summer, especially if Chelsea go into administration.

 

[sewey89]

The singing of his name is really, REALLY weird.

Just constantly sing the clubs name loud and proud for 90 minutes. Surely they can’t still think he’s a good guy. You have to be able to look past football here. Such odd behaviour

 

[Markey]

I don't think the 20k away restriction will be that much of an issue.

Even for CL away games, they can just tell the players that the club is going to book economy class Ryan Air and a cheap hostel for our hotel. Oh, but feel free to make your own arrangements for travel and accommodation. Just be at the coach at this time for a ride to the stadium. Team briefings in the changing room.