Stamford Bridge Thread

[steve5221 91]

My 'agenda' is the best for the club, as opposed to an agenda as an apologist for Buck and Gourlays PR . No apologies for posting this from CFC Net CFCnet has received a startling tip off from a merchant banker (purporting to be from a top City institution) regarding the CPO stadium land grab by Chelsea FC. The anonymous tip off, received on our iPhone but from an untraceable number, is made all the more convincing because we asked said banker to prove his credentials. He replied by describing the interior elevator to the fifth floor, the one that houses Roman, Tenenbaum etc (the real power clique behind Buck and Gourlay). The banker described how the elevator goes between Floor One & Four in normal fashion (correct) but to access Floor Five one has to insert a special plastic card (correct). He also described the Russian Special Forces goon (bulging left armpit) at the entrance to the fifth floor posing as security (also correct). Clearly, whoever this chap is, he’s been to the inner sanctum of Chelsea FC. The banker went on to reveal that the recent stadium land grab by Chelsea FC (snap EGM/£269,000 in dodgy share purchases leading up to the vote/carefully plotted PR campaign) had nothing whatsoever to do with a move to a new stadium. This is what the banker had to say, “The stadium move might or might not happen but it is not the real reason Chelsea tried to railroad CPO shareholders into handing over their shares.” He continued, “rather it’s because Chelsea intend to follow Man Utd’s lead and list on one of the Asian Stock Exchanges, either Hong Kong or Singapore.” When asked why this would involve CPO, the banker stated, “The Club intend to float 49% of the Club – to raise upwards of £500 million – but to do that it must offer investors more than a few players, a training ground and a balance sheet nursing red ink.” The banker then added, “any flotation must be backed by real assets and that means the 12-odd acres of Chelsea real estate. The pitch, because it is owned by CPO, represents a considerable barrier that must be removed – it’s essentially a ransom strip.” The banker then went on, “the Club’s line that they can’t negotiate with brownfield site owners because of CPO is laughable. The moment anyone in the City of London sees Roman Abramovich the doors are flung wide open. To suggest otherwise is a poorly disguised lie.” CFCnet then asked about the stadium move to which we received the following answer, “I’m not involved in that, I was only involved in the preliminary stages of organising a flotation and my role has been passed on to more senior bankers”. The banker then added, “it would be easy for the Club to say where it was moving the stadium to. The reason it isn’t prepared to do so is probably because they don’t have anywhere earmarked yet they still need to float the Club. That’s why they can’t tell the truth.” CFCnet doesn’t feel competent enough in investment banking matters to comment on the accuracy (or not) of the above tip off. All we can vouch for is that whoever this person is, he has been to visit the inner coterie of Chelsea FC board members (the organ grinder behind Bruce Buck and Ron Gourlay). It also answers at a swipe why the Club can’t tell CPO shareholders where they want to move to. In all probability they don’t have anywhere in mind. Indeed, this week’s announcement by Hammersmith & Fulham Council (“The Council now proposes to examine whether there are planning options to expand Stamford Bridge to accommodate a larger capacity”) also gives lie to the fact that all Stamford Bridge options have been exhausted and that the Council is itself a ‘barrier’. What we at CFCnet know is (a) the Club are lying ( there is a deeper agenda at work. What agenda this is we don’t know but the above conversation has certainly made us stop and think, especially as our fan base in Asia is second only to Man Utd.

Interesting stuff indeed FB, lets hope you don't wake up tomorrow with a horses head in your bed!!

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

Interesting stuff indeed FB, lets hope you don't wake up tomorrow with a horses head in your bed!!

Too late Steve, unless I get a divorce

[steve5221 91]

Too late Steve, unless I get a divorce

I knew there was a joke in thier somewhere!!!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Chief executive Ron Gourlay fears Chelsea could be left behind both on and off the field if they do not move to a new stadium.

The club's hopes of switching grounds suffered a setback at the hands of their fans in October after shareholders in the Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) company rejected a proposal to buy back the land upon which Stamford Bridge is built.

It was a humiliating defeat for Blues owner Roman Abramovich and Gourlay said on Monday no decision had yet been made as to whether a fresh vote will be called at December's AGM.

Gourlay insisted, however, that it was imperative a solution was found, claiming the club has "outgrown" Stamford Bridge.

He also revealed plans to announce a naming rights sponsor for the ground in the New Year.

Solution

"We have one of smallest stadiums in Europe," Gourlay told the International Football Arena in Zurich.

"We have corporate hospitality that is second to none and 30,000 season-ticket holders. But we have a stadium slightly larger than 40,000 which drops to 38,000 on Champions League nights. We have to find a solution."

He added: "We have outgrown our stadium and tried every way possible to extend capacity.

"We need a 60-65,000 stadium. We have the eighth biggest stadium in England and the 61st biggest in Europe.

"But when you look at the activity of stadiums planned for next few years, we will fall out of top 75 which can only be restrictive to the football club.

"In the meantime, we continue on our conversations to see if there is any way at all to extend Stamford Bridge.

Big step

"We hope to make an announcement on naming rights for Stamford Bridge within the next six to eight months. It would make a big step because we have to drive up the revenues."

Having lost one CPO vote, Gourlay refused to say whether the next month's AGM, which requires only a 50 per cent majority, would prompt another ballot.

"This is a time for reflection, to sit down with the owner and discuss the situation," he said. "We thought we made a very good proposal to the CPO shareholders. They decided on a 'no' vote.

"We got 62% but it's time to discuss it with Roman and the board. We have been very transparent in terms of venues."

Gourlay said the club were also intent on identifying the Chelsea fans who were involved in chanting against QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during last week's UEFA Champions League match in Genk.

"We know the people who travelled but we don't know who participated in any of that chanting," he said. "If and when they are identified, we need to sit down and discuss it."

http://www1.skysport...n-stadium-plans

[Henrique 9,133]

This is the toughest question to answer in modern football: Build a new stadium, which could ultimately put Chelsea on the world stage permanently and sell the soul and only home of the club or stay at the Bridge and run the risk of being Liverpool, who struggle to keep up with the ascendancy of their peers?

Its doesnt make any sense. A club doesnt lost "their soul" because they move to a new Stadium. Bayern has a new stadium, and the soul is still there.

Football is business.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea set to announce Stamford Bridge stadium sponsor

Chelsea have played at Stamford Bridge in SW6 since 1905

Chelsea are set to announce a naming rights sponsor for their Stamford Bridge stadium in the new year.

This follows the club's failed attempt to buy back the land on which the ground is built, which could have facilitated a move to a new venue.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "We have outgrown our stadium.

"We hope to make an announcement on naming rights in the next six to eight months. It would make a big step as we have to drive up the revenues."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15630954.stm

[steve5221 91]

Anyone got any info on figures for the naming rights - how much could we realistically get????

[strong centreback 157]

Up to 10m a season although id expect lower, if they have made headway in the naming rights to the bridge then it is purely down to the fact that they are giving said sponsor first refusal on a new grounds naming rights as well, as the last report about this subject gourlay said they were finding it difficult to sell as stamford bridge had to be kept in the name as promised.

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

Gourlay mentioned all this after the NO vote. Its almost like a spite thimg because they didnt get their way, but hey ho.

The Samsung Stamford Bridge or something probably. Also the 'Ron Gourlay Stand' would be good

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

"Chelsea are set to announce a naming rights sponsor for their Stamford Bridge stadium in the new year".

What it's mean?

[clistar 0]

Singha beer Stamford bridge ,lol

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

"Having lost one CPO vote, Gourlay refused to say whether the next month's AGM, which requires only a 50% majority, would prompt another ballot".

SO we wull neet only 50% now?

[mrparkersdogbite 15]

"Having lost one CPO vote, Gourlay refused to say whether the next month's AGM, which requires only a 50% majority, would prompt another ballot".

SO we would need only 50% now?

No. This is yet another piece of misinformation which, because it has been repeated often enough by 'credible' sources has become accepted as fact. But in order to change the CPO's Articles of Association (which would be required in this case) they need a Special Resolution to be passed by shareholders which, by law, requires a 75% majority. It doesn't matter whether the resolution is voted on at an EGM or an AGM. So whenever you see this statement written in a story about the CPO it confirms (a) that the journalist has failed to do any fact checking and (b ) that the rest of what he/she has written needs to be treated with some scepticism as well.

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

http://translate.goo...00.html&act=url

"The team is looking for a stadium name sponsor from 2009 and it is estimated, the new name will be a minimum of 7 years.(so we will stay at SB for aminimum of 7 years).

Gorlii also revealed that Chelsea has 253 million fans worldwide - 44% of them in Asia, Europe 29%, 21% in Africa and 3% in North and South America. :thinking:

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Singha beer Stamford bridge ,lol

Worst beer in the world..

[LDN Blue 7,903]

The Chelsea supporters who revolted against the club's attempts to buy the freehold of Stamford Bridge have snubbed an offer to join the board of the company that owns the ground.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich was keen to acquire the rights to the stadium from the New Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) amid talk of a possible relocation.

He was unsuccessful in his efforts, with the 'Say No CPO' (SNCPO) campaign able to prevent the Russian billionaire from assuming even more control over the club and its assets.

CPO chairman Steve Frankham has since invited a representative of SNCPO to become a fourth director of the supporter-led organisation.

SNCPO have declined the offer, though, and are expected to purse their agenda of changing the make-up of the current board at CPO's annual general meeting in December.

SNCPO said in a statement: "The 'Say No' campaign group has today declined an offer from CPO chairman Steve Frankham to put one director on the board of CPO.

"The group felt that having just one token director on a board of four exposed that director to excessive risk in the light of recent and current activities of CPO, and did not address the issue that the board had not acted in the best interests of CPO, and did not reflect the views of long-standing shareholders."

SNCPO confirmed on Monday that solicitors working for them had written to the Takeover Panel expressing concern at the volume of shares issued by CPO after the club went public with its offer to buy back the Stamford Bridge freehold.

Around £200,000 worth of new shares were purchased after Chelsea announced their plans on 3rd October, three-and-a-half weeks before CPO voted on their proposal at an extraordinary general meeting.

The club needed to secure support of those holding 75 per cent of the shares who voted either in person or by proxy but managed only 61.6 per cent.

SNCPO have claimed that figure would have been even less had trading been suspended on 3rd October.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the club, who have consistently distanced themselves from suggestions they were aware of the identity of those who purchased the shares in bulk.

Chelsea sold the freehold of Stamford Bridge to CPO in the 1990s to prevent property developers making them homeless.

They want to buy it back in order to ensure they can sell the land beneath the stadium should they decide to move to a new 60,000-seater arena.

Frankham last week returned as CPO chairman following the resignation of Richard King, who was blamed by some shareholders for not acting to prevent the bulk buying of shares.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Worst beer in the world..

lol You obviously haven't tasted alcohol-free beer..in which case, consider yourself lucky.

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

The Chelsea supporters who revolted against the club's attempts to buy the freehold of Stamford Bridge have snubbed an offer to join the board of the company that owns the ground.

Always no,no,no.......

We NEED a new stadium to Increase the revenues....

[LDN Blue 7,903]

lol You obviously haven't tasted alcohol-free beer..in which case, consider yourself lucky.

Bitburger

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Reasons for declining board offer

To expand on yesterdays statement further – SAYNO are still in informal discussions with Steve Frankham but due to a Tuesday 7th deadline requirement set by CPO, we felt obligated to decline what was on offer at that time.

This was largely based on legal advice that a token minority of directors – by definition, could not be certain to definitively change the course of the CPO board, and therefore may be held liable for past and future transgressions that we believe may be likely to result in legal rebuke from regulatory authorities.

SAYNO are determined to ensure all sitting directors are democratically re-elected by shareholders at the AGM. We also see any legal argument as to what any perceived monetary value of a CPO share might be as largely irrelevant, it’s true value being – as always, it’s fundamental guardianship of Stamford Bridge and thereby Chelsea FC, via it’s voting rights.

http://www.saynocpo.org/2011/11/reasons-for-declining-directorship-offer/