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

AlexUTD said:
This is actually hilarious if true. Got some Chel$ki supporting mates that have laughed at us beeing owned by americans and in debt.
Click to expand...

He's not borrowing anything from Clearlake Capital. They are a part of the consortium and will own a portion of the club. Boehly will be the face of the group and run the day to day operations. I suppose we'll know more in the coming weeks. I'm not sure what that tweet means by huge amounts will disappear in financing costs. The group will supposedly have 1.5B earmarked for investment into the team, infrastructure etc.
 
WeePat said:
He's not borrowing anything from Clearlake Capital. They are a part of the consortium and will own a portion of the club. Boehly will be the face of the group and run the day to day operations. I suppose we'll know more in the coming weeks. I'm not sure what that tweet means by huge amounts will disappear in financing costs. The group will supposedly have 1.5B earmarked for investment into the team, infrastructure etc.
Click to expand...

If you are getting backed again just like Roman with the next owner then you must be the luckiest fans on earth.

P.S Is it not alittle ridiculous to be spending lots of money while you have one of the smallest stadiums of the top 10 teams?
 
AlexUTD said:
If you are getting backed again just like Roman with the next owner then you must be the luckiest fans on earth.

P.S Is it not alittle ridiculous to be spending lots of money while you have one of the smallest stadiums of the top 10 teams?
Click to expand...

It won't be just like Abramovich, but it could see a smarter way to run the club, keeping in mind they're getting a very different club Abramovich got when he took over.

Redeveloping the Bridge is kind of complicated. Abramovich looked into it but it took years of planning to get it to a point where it was authorised by the Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and then it was shelved because of his visa issues. The ownership have a well known London based property developer in the group, and they've apparently have drawn up plans to start work on the redevelopment.
 
WeePat said:
It won't be just like Abramovich, but it could see a smarter way to run the club, keeping in mind they're getting a very different club Abramovich got when he took over.

Redeveloping the Bridge is kind of complicated. Abramovich looked into it but it took years of planning to get it to a point where it was authorised by the Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and then it was shelved because of his visa issues. The ownership have a well known London based property developer in the group, and they've apparently have drawn up plans to start work on the redevelopment.
Click to expand...

Well will be intresting times ahead then.

Good luck with the new owners mate. It will make a huge impact on the club, one way or the other.
 
AlexUTD said:
If you are getting backed again just like Roman with the next owner then you must be the luckiest fans on earth.

P.S Is it not alittle ridiculous to be spending lots of money while you have one of the smallest stadiums of the top 10 teams?
Click to expand...
We spent lot but also sold players for huge amounts. We need to spend that money wisely and have a good core of young players and promising loan players with two three additions from market we will have a good squad.

Key for us will be keeping tuchel happy and back him well. He is a great coach also handle things well when under media pressure.
 
Rajiztar said:
We spent lot but also sold players for huge amounts. We need to spend that money wisely and have a good core of young players and promising loan players with two three additions from market we will have a good squad.

Key for us will be keeping tuchel happy and back him well. He is a great coach also handle things well when under media pressure.
Click to expand...

With the players leavibg on a free and Kante/Jorginho future not certain then you need to be smart in the market. (Just like we have to be now)
 
AlexUTD said:
With the players leavibg on a free and Kante/Jorginho future not certain then you need to be smart in the market. (Just like we have to be now)
Click to expand...
We are complying ffp for all these seasons. We didnt inflate market for sponsorship either. We did all within permissible rules. We will be always there in my opinion whoever buys us will spend keep the brand up always.
 
If anyone knows even the basics of America and American history then they will know debt is king. Americans positively thrive on debt, it's literally the lifeblood.

The Glazers are not the outlier cnuts in finance, they are the absolute norm. FSG are similar but on a much smaller and manageable scale because we did a cut price fire sale just before (more Americans) Hicks and Gillet drowned us in (drum roll please) debt.

£3b has to come from someone's pockets and I can guarantee there is no American version of Abramovic.
 
RA bought Chelsea and spent his money building it up. None of the consortiums have that ethos, they all see a good profit from ownership.
Sadly for Chelski, the good times are over!
 
So Roman decided that he wasn't willing to just give up a couple billion pounds without a fight for the good of the club? Consider me shocked.
 
Did he ever make any promise to write off the debt. All I've been hearing that proceeds from the sale, ie profits, will go to Ukraine. If they sell the club for 3.5billion, then 1.8billion goes to Ukraine.
 
ThatsGreat said:
Did he ever make any promise to write off the debt. All I've been hearing that proceeds from the sale, ie profits, will go to Ukraine. If they sell the club for 3.5billion, then 1.8billion goes to Ukraine.
Click to expand...
Yes he did. Profit and debt write off 2 separate things.
 
Powderfinger said:
So Roman decided that he wasn't willing to just give up a couple billion pounds without a fight for the good of the club? Consider me shocked.
Click to expand...

I am utterly, utterly dumbfounded. It's the most unforeseen thing ever. Like ever.
 
Abramovic made statements, nothing was contractually signed and even if they were he could easily go back on them, he is already heavily sanctioned.

Proceeds were to go to vicitims of the war not specifically Ukraine.

Abramovic had his assets FROZEN not seized, his purchase of Chelsea and the debt was never reversed and then the gov owned the club, my understanding was that he has been forced to sell, meaning any promise to write off debt isn't worth the paper its written on especially considering the severity of sanctions on Russian connections.

No matter how rich you are as an individual and your personal stance, you don't give up almost 2bn just because you love a club...

I imagine much of that good will has been eroded in the last few weeks and the financial implication of giving away 2bn is not insignificant when you consider the sanctions from a wider point of view.

This is not going to be very easy for Chelsea moving forwards.
 
Call me cynical but the timing of this story re. the loan repayment, and the sudden emergence of Ratcliffe's bid and him now meeting the CST etc, feels ironic.

Very strange timing, IMO. Also wondering if by bypassing Raine, does Roman gain more from selling to JIm Ratcliffe, too
 
Last edited:
TrebleChamp99 said:
Abramovic made statements, nothing was contractually signed and even if they were he could easily go back on them, he is already heavily sanctioned.

Proceeds were to go to vicitims of the war not specifically Ukraine.

Abramovic had his assets FROZEN not seized, his purchase of Chelsea and the debt was never reversed and then the gov owned the club, my understanding was that he has been forced to sell, meaning any promise to write off debt isn't worth the paper its written on especially considering the severity of sanctions on Russian connections.

No matter how rich you are as an individual and your personal stance, you don't give up almost 2bn just because you love a club...

I imagine much of that good will has been eroded in the last few weeks and the financial implication of giving away 2bn is not insignificant when you consider the sanctions from a wider point of view.

This is not going to be very easy for Chelsea moving forwards.
Click to expand...
Just remember, its also not up to the government to save Chelsea here. Roman could just decide to sink Chelsea or demand his money which UK cant agree to
 
cyberman said:
Just remember, its also not up to the government to save Chelsea here. Roman could just decide to sink Chelsea or demand his money which UK cant agree to
Click to expand...
He isnt going to sink Chelsea, it just wont happen. Wishful thinking perhaps...

My personal view is this is related to ratcliffe's bid
 
Dangerous game.

I don't buy coincidences and the logical explanation is that Roman is working his own game with Ratcliffe which is why the bid suddenly appeared from nowhere last week almost tailor made to meet Roman's new stance.

The gamble is that despite this being a fairly transparent attempt to get around the sanctions the Government will be the ones to blink as they will not want to be seen to destroy Chelsea. The big risk is that the Government decides that this is one occasion when they will display a backbone and they refuse to sanction the sale at a point when Boehly et al will have basically fecked off because they realize they are being used as pawns in someone elses game. I don't believe Chelsea will be excluded from the PL next year as has been mentioned as a possibility here but they could certainly find themselves stuck operating under a license again and facing points penalties and other sanctions which would set them back years and in the short term quite probably see them relegated next season.
 
DavidDeSchmikes said:
Click to expand...


Can't really blame him, I'd want the 1.5bn back too.

Could sink the club, it won't be able to be sold so it'll be curtains this summer when our license runs out from government unless either side changes their stance.

Oh well I guess we'll all get used to new Chelsea in the lower League's...
 
Gandalf said:
Dangerous game.

I don't buy coincidences and the logical explanation is that Roman is working his own game with Ratcliffe which is why the bid suddenly appeared from nowhere last week almost tailor made to meet Roman's new stance.

The gamble is that despite this being a fairly transparent attempt to get around the sanctions the Government will be the ones to blink as they will not want to be seen to destroy Chelsea. The big risk is that the Government decides that this is one occasion when they will display a backbone and they refuse to sanction the sale at a point when Boehly et al will have basically fecked off because they realize they are being used as pawns in someone elses game. I don't believe Chelsea will be excluded from the PL next year as has been mentioned as a possibility here but they could certainly find themselves stuck operating under a license again and facing points penalties and other sanctions which would set them back years and in the short term quite probably see them relegated next season.
Click to expand...
I suspect its Racliffe related.

-INEOS and Ratcliffe release a statement confirming their bid on Friday morning, the same day suprisingly that Boehly is preferred bidder, albeit not publicly confirmed by Raine yet
-Ratcliffe would need very little due dilligence ; already having UK businesses and being well known to UK Govt. has links there, apparently
-His bid bypasses the Raine group process and therefore means no broker fees paid by club
-And he now begins to meet the CST and possibly Paul Canoville... i dont see why he'd do that if he's out of the running

I'd still go Boehly, but im not so sure its quite signed and sealed yet

and then suddenly all this news breaks.... timing is too coincidental
 
All of this seems to have started with The Times. It is probably just sensationalism.
 
Cassidy said:
Im sure they won’t give Roman a penny
Click to expand...

Probably, if he sells and writes the loan off he gets nothing. What incentive is their to do that? Because he's a generous spirit...?

If he holds out, refuses to sell without getting his money back, technically he'd still be owed the money, obviously the club would be wrecked (administration? and relegated next season or points dedication this one and mid table, then relegated next one) unless the government allowed it to operate still somehow....

Point two might not bother him too much, given fans would blame the government at least in part and at least he has some chance, eventually to get some money back.

Either way, it's a better option from his perspective (unless he's father Christmas?) than simply writing it off. The Times are connected, very much doubt it's sensationalism, looks like there is a reasonable chance Chelsea as we currently know it will be a casualty of the war.
 
Mb194dc said:
Probably, if he sells and writes the loan off he gets nothing. What incentive is their to do that? Because he's a generous spirit...?

If he holds out, refuses to sell without getting his money back, technically he'd still be owed the money, obviously the club would be wrecked (administration? and relegated next season or points dedication this one and mid table, then relegated next one) unless the government allowed it to operate still somehow....

Point two might not bother him too much, given fans would blame the government at least in part and at least he has some chance, eventually to get some money back.

Either way, it's a better option from his perspective (unless he's father Christmas?) than simply writing it off. The Times are connected, very much doubt it's sensationalism, looks like there is a reasonable chance Chelsea as we currently know it will be a casualty of the war.
Click to expand...

I’m not suggesting its fiction. Im suggesting the UK government is not likely to allow what he wants.
 
ZolaWasMagic said:
I suspect its Racliffe related.

-INEOS and Ratcliffe release a statement confirming their bid on Friday morning, the same day suprisingly that Boehly is preferred bidder, albeit not publicly confirmed by Raine yet
-Ratcliffe would need very little due dilligence ; already having UK businesses and being well known to UK Govt. has links there, apparently
-His bid bypasses the Raine group process and therefore means no broker fees paid by club
-And he now begins to meet the CST and possibly Paul Canoville... i dont see why he'd do that if he's out of the running

I'd still go Boehly, but im not so sure its quite signed and sealed yet

and then suddenly all this news breaks.... timing is too coincidental
Click to expand...

It could definitely be the case that Ratcliffe and Roman are in cahoots.

Its far less clear why the UK government would want to go along with their plan. Yes, there are political costs to Chelsea going into administration. But there are also political costs to the government transparently violating the sanctions regime to help Roman and Putin claw back a few billion pounds, directly against all the government's public statements to the contrary, especially given how much Boris has embraced the pro-Ukrainian cause. Its not clear at all to me that the former costs outweigh the latter.

Roman seems to be playing a game of chicken with the UK government. But I wouldn't assume he's playing it because he has coldly calculated that it will work. He is more likely to be playing it because its not him personally who will pay any price if the car crashes.
 
The Times also said we would be relegated at the very beginning of this, and we would have to ride in buses to all games, and the players would have to pay for transportation. The Times has been wrong at every step. All of this today is from "sources". I will wait until there is a credible person that comes forward.
 
Mb194dc said:
Probably, if he sells and writes the loan off he gets nothing. What incentive is their to do that? Because he's a generous spirit...?

If he holds out, refuses to sell without getting his money back, technically he'd still be owed the money, obviously the club would be wrecked (administration? and relegated next season or points dedication this one and mid table, then relegated next one) unless the government allowed it to operate still somehow....

Point two might not bother him too much, given fans would blame the government at least in part and at least he has some chance, eventually to get some money back.

Either way, it's a better option from his perspective (unless he's father Christmas?) than simply writing it off. The Times are connected, very much doubt it's sensationalism, looks like there is a reasonable chance Chelsea as we currently know it will be a casualty of the war.
Click to expand...

This news is a big worry I agree. I obviously don’t want Chelsea to be battered or even subject to penalties next year (points deductions or relegation). Do you really think it could threaten the clubs actual existence?

Scary stuff. This was meant to be a quick sale. It’s not happened. You now have players leaving like Rudiger and Christensen with others likely concerned themselves.
 
Mb194dc said:
Can't really blame him, I'd want the 1.5bn back too.

Could sink the club, it won't be able to be sold so it'll be curtains this summer when our license runs out from government unless either side changes their stance.

Oh well I guess we'll all get used to new Chelsea in the lower League's...
Click to expand...
I'd want it back too. It's easy to gloss over millions and billions when talking about sports, players, transfers, and takeovers but most don't realize how much money that actually is.
As a comparison, 1m seconds is ~11 days. 1b seconds is ~35 years. That's a lot of money to just walk away from. Makes the wealth of people like Musk and Bezos sound even more ridiculous.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.