Roman Abramovich Thread

[Superblue 6,370]

Ricketts have released a list of promises today within their bid:

List of the Ricketts' promises to Chelsea fans

• 1. Make no change to the club’s name, badge and crest, or Chelsea blue, without the consent of supporters.
• 2. Never participate in a European Super League and always protect the integrity and heritage of Chelsea F.C.
• 3. Commit the resources necessary across all levels of the club to continue winning trophies, including investing in the first team, experienced football leadership and the Academy.
• 4. Put diversity and inclusion at the heart of the club and fight against any form of discrimination or inequality.
• 5. Create an Advisory Committee with diverse representation to ensure our decisions are informed by: a former men’s and women’s first team player, members of the CST and Chelsea Pitch Owners, and influential community leaders.
• 6. Explore every option to redevelop Stamford Bridge and do everything in our power to keep playing in this historic stadium.
• 7. Match the current commitment to Chelsea F.C. Women and increase the number of women’s matches played at Stamford Bridge.
• 8. Continue the vital charitable work of the Chelsea Foundation, seeking to use the power of football and sport to motivate, educate and inspire

 

[Superblue 6,370]

23 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Ricketts have released a list of promises today within their bid:

List of the Ricketts' promises to Chelsea fans

• 1. Make no change to the club’s name, badge and crest, or Chelsea blue, without the consent of supporters.
• 2. Never participate in a European Super League and always protect the integrity and heritage of Chelsea F.C.
• 3. Commit the resources necessary across all levels of the club to continue winning trophies, including investing in the first team, experienced football leadership and the Academy.
• 4. Put diversity and inclusion at the heart of the club and fight against any form of discrimination or inequality.
• 5. Create an Advisory Committee with diverse representation to ensure our decisions are informed by: a former men’s and women’s first team player, members of the CST and Chelsea Pitch Owners, and influential community leaders.
• 6. Explore every option to redevelop Stamford Bridge and do everything in our power to keep playing in this historic stadium.
• 7. Match the current commitment to Chelsea F.C. Women and increase the number of women’s matches played at Stamford Bridge.
• 8. Continue the vital charitable work of the Chelsea Foundation, seeking to use the power of football and sport to motivate, educate and inspire

 

Some of them are pretty basic statements which you'd expect to be minimum requirements and point 3 could pretty much be anything at their discretion although I'm glad the academy has been referenced, but I'm glad at the very least they've released something to try and quell some fears should they take over. As has been noted on paper, financially, they are probably the strongest bid but we've been needing to know more about their plans for the club.

I would have liked there to also be a commitment to retaining and supporting the current management within the different playing areas of the squad - i.e. Tuchel, Hayes and Bath.

I would still like all the four remaining parties to lay out both a short term plan and longer term plan for the club if they were to take over. At present the limited information afforded to the supporters (who's opinions were apparently going to be considered and taken into account during this process) has been really quite poor.

[Superblue 6,370]

The issues around diversity, politics, etc aren't so much of a worry for me. As things have progressed, the Ricketts bid seems to be either prominently or even entirely based on Tom and Laura.

Tom appears to be the least politically active and controversial amongst the males in the family and Laura is a democrat and openly gay (and also a big supporter of the LGBTQ community). I do believe that if the bid centres around these two within the Ricketts part, they will look to ensure the club is distanced from anything the rest of the family may say or be involved in.

I'm actually far more concerned with how the Chicago Cubs have been run by them and I know that Tom in particular is viewed as the 'face' within that. The Cubs have been poor in recent years which doesn't help them, but it just seems that they have such a disconnect with the community of Chicago. The day experience is on average the most expensive for fans within the MLB, and they have made a number of decisions in the past which have been unpopular but they've gone ahead anyway.

They have to be prepared to buy into the club, the community, the culture and in general the league and the sport. Their past experience with the Cubs does make me worry regarding this.

[Vesper 28,772]

12 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

The issues around diversity, politics, etc aren't so much of a worry for me. As things have progressed, the Ricketts bid seems to be either prominently or even entirely based on Tom and Laura.

Tom appears to be the least politically active and controversial amongst the males in the family and Laura is a democrat and openly gay (and also a big supporter of the LGBTQ community). I do believe that if the bid centres around these two within the Ricketts part, they will look to ensure the club is distanced from anything the rest of the family may say or be involved in.

I'm actually far more concerned with how the Chicago Cubs have been run by them and I know that Tom in particular is viewed as the 'face' within that. The Cubs have been poor in recent years which doesn't help them, but it just seems that they have such a disconnect with the community of Chicago. The day experience is on average the most expensive for fans within the MLB, and they have made a number of decisions in the past which have been unpopular but they've gone ahead anyway.

They have to be prepared to buy into the club, the community, the culture and in general the league and the sport. Their past experience with the Cubs does make me worry regarding this.

yes, I was freaking out as many of the early reports said Gov Pete would be involved and have equity

Pete is the worst one, after the father, and arguably worse than him as he has a shedload of actual power

Laura is great

[Vesper 28,772]

17 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I'm actually far more concerned with how the Chicago Cubs have been run by them and I know that Tom in particular is viewed as the 'face' within that. The Cubs have been poor in recent years which doesn't help them, but it just seems that they have such a disconnect with the community of Chicago. The day experience is on average the most expensive for fans within the MLB, and they have made a number of decisions in the past which have been unpopular but they've gone ahead anyway.

hopefully Griffin and Gilbert do NOT let that happen (if they win the bidding process)

[Clockwork 1,794]

10 hours ago, whats happening said:

dan gilbert was willing to spend tons of money while james was playing in cleveland. 

Dan Gilbert is a mega donor to Michigan State University athletic department, the guy is extremely passionate about sport.  

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Somehow i feel the Ricketts will win because they have strong backer like Griffin and Gilbert. Boehly seems to have the best project but financially not as strong as the Ricketts, shame he didn't recruit Steve Ballmer. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Blues Forever

[whats happening 1,525]

12 hours ago, Clockwork said:

Dan Gilbert is a mega donor to Michigan State University athletic department, the guy is extremely passionate about sport.  

he also had a stroke two years ago and since is less involved in the cavs...

[ZAPHOD2319 4,476]

 

 

[didi007 69]

10 hours ago, Blues Forever said:

Somehow i feel the Ricketts will win because they have strong backer like Griffin and Gilbert. Boehly seems to have the best project but financially not as strong as the Ricketts, shame he didn't recruit Steve Ballmer. 

No to the Ricketts! If the Ricketts win, me and millions of Chelsea fans all over the world will definately stop supporting the club. I have supported Chelsea for 40 years but it will be a sad day if Chelsea is taken over by a fascist racist owner.  I will cherish and remember the good days. I hope it doesnt come to this!.

[MoroccanBlue 5,296]

9 minutes ago, didi007 said:

No to the Ricketts! If the Ricketts win, me and millions of Chelsea fans all over the world will definately stop supporting the club. I have supported Chelsea for 40 years but it will be a sad day if Chelsea is taken over by a fascist racist owner.  I will cherish and remember the good days. I hope it doesnt come to this!.

There seems to be a misinterpretation. The father isn't involved in the bid and the children have distanced themselves from him. 

[Blue Armour 4,278]

10 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

There seems to be a misinterpretation. The father isn't involved in the bid and the children have distanced themselves from him. 

True. I'm now worried about the misinformation that is being circulated around on forums. Don't want to scupper a potentially good bid because of outrage from overblown facts. 

I hope the majority  of local Chelsea fans are being pragmatic about the whole thing.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Blue Armour

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

16 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

There seems to be a misinterpretation. The father isn't involved in the bid and the children have distanced themselves from him. 

Have those involved in the bid supported Trump in the form of advocating for him or donating to his campaign(s)? I know that some here may disagree with me on this, and some among the wider Blues' fanbase certainly will, but this would be an absolute and insurmountable deal breaker for me. 

Edited April 5, 2022 by OhForAGreavsie

[Vesper 28,772]

1 hour ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Have those involved in the bid supported Trump in the form of advocating for him or donating to his campaign(s)? I know that some here may disagree with me on this, and some among the wider Blues' fanbase certainly will, but this would be an absolute and insurmountable deal breaker for me. 

All of the Ricketts (except for my fellow lesbian Satan and Obama worshiper Laura <<<< I jest!), plus both Gilbert, and Griffin are all Trumpers, and combined have given directly and fundraised hundreds of millions of USD for the Rethuglicans.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

All of the Ricketts (except for my fellow lesbian Satan and Obama worshiper Laura <<<< I jest!), plus both Gilbert, and Griffin are all Trumpers, and combined have given directly and fundraised hundreds of millions of USD for the Rethuglicans.

Thanks. This is what I thought I'd read but the comment to which I replied made we wonder if I'd misremembered.

[didi007 69]

22 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

There seems to be a misinterpretation. The father isn't involved in the bid and the children have distanced themselves from him. 

We dont want them. Period!!!

[MoroccanBlue 5,296]

6 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Have those involved in the bid supported Trump in the form of advocating for him or donating to his campaign(s)? I know that some here may disagree with me on this, and some among the wider Blues' fanbase certainly will, but this would be an absolute and insurmountable deal breaker for me. 

That's a bit silly. A deal breaker because of their political affiliation?

Unless these lot are far right activists  I can't imagine why someone's political preference has any bearing on how well they can run this football club. 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,476]

Pete Ricketts is a Governor. That apple fell right next to the Joe Ricketts tree. He is always involved in some far right wacko politics. Today he is on the hot seat for wanting to cut 100 million dollars from Nursing Home budgets for state run facilities. These elderly people are probably completely unaware he is trying to steam roll what little aide they get. Overall the Ricketts family is a terrible legacy.