I'm still devastated at losing RDM and even moreso with you having appointed Benitez as manager. It has killed any enthusiasm I had for this season in what should have been a 9 month period of elation and celebration.

However seeing Chelsea win the league was just a pipe dream for me growing up, I hadn't even contemplated winning the CL and being crowned Champions of Europe. 97 was brilliant but the 30th April 2005 & 19th May 2012 are up there with 2 of the best days of my life. I still remember leaving Upton Park in 2003 thinking that Liverpool beating City was a near certainty and that was it for us. It was easily the worst I've ever felt at a football game especially being amongst the West Ham support, such was the precarity of our position (financially) I feared for the worst. You came in and cleared our debt and then spent close to £1bn of your own money and transformed us into the best team in the world and not once have you demanded any credit or publicity for it like a Dave Whelan would, you've let the managers and team take all the credit and not even asked for as much as a "thanks" from the fans or anyone. Being able to sweep the likes of United, Liverpool, West Ham and Arsenal aside effortlessly on their own patches was something I'll be eternally grateful to you and Jose for. Same with Carlo for our Cup Double and RDM for our CL and FA Cup Wins.

A lot of the real Chelsea fans have been priced out, but that isn't your fault, that can largely be attributed to the FA who sold us all out to Sky under the demand of the likes of United, Liverpool and Spurs who decided making money was more important than the sport itself and the fans, despite that to this day we pay less to watch our team than the likes of Spurs and Arsenal do with vastly inferior sides.

There are things I believe you've done wrong but the fact you don't settle for 2nd best is testament to you as an owner. I can't say I agree with every decision you've ever made. I was hurt to see Ranieri leave and believe you made the wrong choice in sacking Jose, Carlo & RDM but we've always bounced back and you've always remained fully committed to the cause.

This is a great and big club with loyal support that was starved of success, and it's thanks to you we have it. I can't say I like nor trust the people you have working around you (Tenenbaum, Emanelo, Buck, Gourlay etc) but you've been the best thing to happen to this football club and it's thanks to you we are even in the position to chant "Champions of Europe" and taunt our rivals.

As pissed off and hurt as I am with things at the moment a few 0-0's here and there and 6 months of dull football under the Fat Controller isn't going to kill me. I'd rather that than be wondering where we might be if you hadn't of come in and invested in us.

So yeah.. Thanks Roman

Edited November 29, 201213 yr by Myles_91

We would have probably been invested in by some other fat cat? What RA has done for this club is commendable but it does not give him the right to crap on the fans...I was a fan before he was here and I will be a fan when he goes so I think that gives us the right to make sure he knows what he is doing is unacceptable

Sorry Myles_91 but to me that just comes across as desperate ass kissing. You can say Roman Abramovich has given us a lot, which he has, but he was also one of the main reasons why we finished in such an awful league position last year. Even without Roman we have finished higher than 6th. I am happy for all he has given us but that doesn't mean i won't complain about him when he feels like embarrassing the club and the fans, which he has done in my opinion. The lack of stability is catching up on us now and it's really starting to piss me off.

I love what he has done for the club but i don't really like the guy, he's in it all for himself and he doesn't give a sh*t what you, me, or anyone else thinks.

Myles, you young whipper-snapper you, I'll see your Upton Park 2003 and show you a Bolton away May 1983.......... how much have I won in that pot?

And while I'm here let me tell you about another club owner we once had.

Remember the days before Ken came along? When Brian Mears was Chairman, with Lord Chelsea, David Mears etc as Directors?

To have supported the club through those years was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone. We went from Cup Winners, (see, Myles, we did win things before Roman arrived), to a club crippled by debts, with every single player worth anything sold off for half his worth. We had one big East Stand next to the pitch with two wide open terraces at each end. We were a club in total mess. The average attendance was at its lowest ever and we had one foot in the old third division.

All that and without any Sky money or sponsorship, something that is overlooked far to often these days. Now you have a picture of what Chelsea was like then...... ahh but now take away the only thing that we could call our home, take away the ground and sell it off to property developers, Marler Estates. No money, no players, no ground, no prospects, and millions of pounds worth of debts. No chance of TV money and a club whose fans were about as popular as a fart in a lift. On top of all that the people who were in charge of the club were doing all they could to move us in with Crystal Palace so the developers could build flats on the pitch.

THIS, this is what Ken Bates took over. Forget the fact that he only paid a quid for it, plenty of people back then would have said he was ripped off!!! There were many who didn't particularly like Ken, but I'll tell you what he was the only man alive that was willing to fight for us, he was the only man alive that could have turned around the fortunes of this club. He took on the former owners, he took on the football league, he took on the media, he took on the property developers, he took on the local council.... he took the lot on and, after a long, long battle through the courts and the media.......... he WON !!!!!!

Some people make it out that if it hadn't been Bates it would have been another saviour, well, I'm sorry but they are wrong. If it was anyone else we would never have secured the rights to buy the freehold of the ground and the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme he came up with to ensure that, never again, could our home be taken away from us by unscrupulous owners, was pure genius. Back then Ken promised us we could be one of the top clubs in Europe and, along with every Tottenham, Man U, Liverpoo, Arsenal fan, we laughed and thought he was completely mad.

I'll hear, and sometimes accept, criticisms of Bates. He wasn't perfect, but by God he genuinely cared for this club. We must never let anyone forget that is one man we have to thank for the stadium we play in and the stars we watch and the fact that we have Chelsea FC to support. If it wasn't for him we'd probably be watching Crystal Park Rangers!

Thank you Ken Bates, the best owner we have ever had, and ever will have.

With thanks and acknowledgment to Chelsea_Dave

Edited November 29, 201213 yr by just

Sorry Myles_91 but to me that just comes across as desperate ass kissing. You can say Roman Abramovich has given us a lot, which he has, but he was also one of the main reasons why we finished in such an awful league position last year. Even without Roman we have finished higher than 6th. I am happy for all he has given us but that doesn't mean i won't complain about him when he feels like embarrassing the club and the fans, which he has done in my opinion. The lack of stability is catching up on us now and it's really starting to piss me off.

I love what he has done for the club but i don't really like the guy, he's in it all for himself and he doesn't give a sh*t what you, me, or anyone else thinks.

Since 2004 our captain has not changed, Arsenal and United have been through many in that time.

We've had the same Owner, the same board, same stadium, same nucleus of players, ask yourself how many other clubs can say the same?

Is there any Arsenal player left from their side of 5 or even 4 years ago? How much success have they had? In my eyes that is stability and isn't/should not be any less significant than having the same manager?

I'm not justifying the sacking of RDM or other managers but look at Real Madrid, they've changed managers more often than I change underwear and has that ever stopped them from being successful?

Bates was happy to sack Gullit (who got us playing the best football we'd played in a generation, won us our first trophy in 25 years and got us in the top 4 bringing an array of talented players), stick up an electric fence and put the club in financial jeopardy yet this isn't treating the fans badly?

I'm not sucking up to Roman I just accept the situation for what it is, football is fundamentally a business and has been since Sky got involved. If you, I or 20,000 people decide to boycott Chelsea games tomorrow they'll just find another 20,000 to take our place. In the old days if that happened football clubs would near enough go bust. The fans were the heartbeat of the club, that simply isn't the case anymore. Roman is far more accommodating than most other owners and fundamentally wants what we do - a successful club which we can be proud of. Give me that over Arsenal's shareholders, ENIC at Spurs, Porno Kings at West Ham, Glazers at United anyday. Sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth, it seems many aren't willing to accept that and want to have their cake and eat it.

Since 2004 our captain has not changed, Arsenal and United have been through many in that time.

We've had the same Owner, the same board, same stadium, same nucleus of players, ask yourself how many other clubs can say the same?

Is there any Arsenal player left from their side of 5 or even 4 years ago? How much success have they had? In my eyes that is stability and isn't/should not be any less significant than having the same manager?

I'm not justifying the sacking of RDM or other managers but look at Real Madrid, they've changed managers more often than I change underwear and has that ever stopped them from being successful?

Bates was happy to sack Gullit (who got us playing the best football we'd played in a generation, won us our first trophy in 25 years and got us in the top 4 bringing an array of talented players), stick up an electric fence and put the club in financial jeopardy yet this isn't treating the fans badly?

I'm not sucking up to Roman I just accept the situation for what it is, football is fundamentally a business and has been since Sky got involved. If you, I or 20,000 people decide to boycott Chelsea games tomorrow they'll just find another 20,000 to take our place. In the old days if that happened football clubs would near enough go bust. The fans were the heartbeat of the club, that simply isn't the case anymore. Roman is far more accommodating than most other owners and fundamentally wants what we do - a successful club which we can be proud of. Give me that over Arsenal's shareholders, ENIC at Spurs, Porno Kings at West Ham, Glazers at United anyday. Sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth, it seems many aren't willing to accept that and want to have their cake and eat it.

A lot has been said about proper fans and i don't think you can define what a true fan is...but if all you care about is winning trophies then no you are not a true fan. Trophies come and go but a club is forever...too many fans consider it a bad season if we win nothing...that is abramovichs legacy and it is a very spoilt one

Myles, you young whipper-snapper you, I'll see your Upton Park 2003 and show you a Bolton away May 1983.......... how much have I won in that pot?

And while I'm here let me tell you about another club owner we once had.

Remember the days before Ken came along? When Brian Mears was Chairman, with Lord Chelsea, David Mears etc as Directors?

To have supported the club through those years was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone. We went from Cup Winners, (see, Myles, we did win things before Roman arrived), to a club crippled by debts, with every single player worth anything sold off for half his worth. We had one big East Stand next to the pitch with two wide open terraces at each end. We were a club in total mess. The average attendance was at its lowest ever and we had one foot in the old third division.

All that and without any Sky money or sponsorship, something that is overlooked far to often these days. Now you have a picture of what Chelsea was like then...... ahh but now take away the only thing that we could call our home, take away the ground and sell it off to property developers, Marler Estates. No money, no players, no ground, no prospects, and millions of pounds worth of debts. No chance of TV money and a club whose fans were about as popular as a fart in a lift. On top of all that the people who were in charge of the club were doing all they could to move us in with Crystal Palace so the developers could build flats on the pitch.

THIS, this is what Ken Bates took over. Forget the fact that he only paid a quid for it, plenty of people back then would have said he was ripped off!!! There were many who didn't particularly like Ken, but I'll tell you what he was the only man alive that was willing to fight for us, he was the only man alive that could have turned around the fortunes of this club. He took on the former owners, he took on the football league, he took on the media, he took on the property developers, he took on the local council.... he took the lot on and, after a long, long battle through the courts and the media.......... he WON !!!!!!

Some people make it out that if it hadn't been Bates it would have been another saviour, well, I'm sorry but they are wrong. If it was anyone else we would never have secured the rights to buy the freehold of the ground and the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme he came up with to ensure that, never again, could our home be taken away from us by unscrupulous owners, was pure genius. Back then Ken promised us we could be one of the top clubs in Europe and, along with every Tottenham, Man U, Liverpoo, Arsenal fan, we laughed and thought he was completely mad.

I'll hear, and sometimes accept, criticisms of Bates. He wasn't perfect, but by God he genuinely cared for this club. We must never let anyone forget that is one man we have to thank for the stadium we play in and the stars we watch and the fact that we have Chelsea FC to support. If it wasn't for him we'd probably be watching Crystal Park Rangers!

Thank you Ken Bates, the best owner we have ever had, and ever will have.

With thanks and acknowledgment to Chelsea_Dave

I'm not suggesting we didn't win anything to Abramovich and owe our entire existence to him or anything.

Appreciate the fact you are older, wiser and have supported Chelsea a lot longer than I have but just stating an opinion mate, not sure why my age makes it less valid.

I fully understand the history of the club and Mears etc especially as people that have taken to me to games have been going since 60s/70s. I just think people calling for Roman Out are not looking at the bigger picture, that's all I'm trying to say.

A lot has been said about proper fans and i don't think you can define what a true fan is...but if all you care about is winning trophies then no you are not a true fan. Trophies come and go but a club is forever...too many fans consider it a bad season if we win nothing...that is abramovichs legacy and it is a very spoilt one

Personally it doesn't bother me if we don't win anything. I just get pleasure out of watching us play. I've always said I found the pre-Abramovich days far more exciting. I do agree with your last point entirely though.

A lot has been said about proper fans and i don't think you can define what a true fan is...but if all you care about is winning trophies then no you are not a true fan. Trophies come and go but a club is forever...too many fans consider it a bad season if we win nothing...that is abramovichs legacy and it is a very spoilt one

That Fearnley is beautifully put and entirely correct. Superb post.

I'm not suggesting we didn't win anything to Abramovich and owe our entire existence to him or anything.

Appreciate the fact you are older, wiser and have supported Chelsea a lot longer than I have but just stating an opinion mate, not sure why my age makes it less valid.

I fully understand the history of the club and Mears etc especially as people that have taken to me to games have been going since 60s/70s. I just think people calling for Roman Out are not looking at the bigger picture, that's all I'm trying to say.

But from what I have seen posted on these forums there is hardly anyone, if at all, calling for Roman Out.

What we are asking for is a change in his methods. To show some patience, to stop meddling so much in team affairs, never to appoint a manager who has publically disrespected our fans, to stop treating Chelsea FC as his personal plaything and at least consider the majority of fans views before making these decisions

Personally, I don't think that is asking too much. I think it is what any club owner worthy of the title should do.

Edited November 29, 201213 yr by just

But from what I have seen posted on these forums there is hardly anyone, if at all, calling for Roman Out.

What we are asking for is a change in his methods. To show some patience, to stop meddling so much in team affairs, never to appoint a manager who has publically disrespected our fans, to stop treating Chelsea FC as his personal plaything and at least consider the majority of fans views before making these decisions

Personally, I don't think that is asking too much. I think it is what any club owner worthy of the title should do.

Then I wholly agree.

I did see a picture of a banner titled "Buck, Gourlay + Abramovich Out" and I apologise for not being able to provide a source for proof but you'll have to take my word for it

Myles, you young whipper-snapper you, I'll see your Upton Park 2003 and show you a Bolton away May 1983.......... how much have I won in that pot?

And while I'm here let me tell you about another club owner we once had.

Remember the days before Ken came along? When Brian Mears was Chairman, with Lord Chelsea, David Mears etc as Directors?

To have supported the club through those years was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone. We went from Cup Winners, (see, Myles, we did win things before Roman arrived), to a club crippled by debts, with every single player worth anything sold off for half his worth. We had one big East Stand next to the pitch with two wide open terraces at each end. We were a club in total mess. The average attendance was at its lowest ever and we had one foot in the old third division.

All that and without any Sky money or sponsorship, something that is overlooked far to often these days. Now you have a picture of what Chelsea was like then...... ahh but now take away the only thing that we could call our home, take away the ground and sell it off to property developers, Marler Estates. No money, no players, no ground, no prospects, and millions of pounds worth of debts. No chance of TV money and a club whose fans were about as popular as a fart in a lift. On top of all that the people who were in charge of the club were doing all they could to move us in with Crystal Palace so the developers could build flats on the pitch.

THIS, this is what Ken Bates took over. Forget the fact that he only paid a quid for it, plenty of people back then would have said he was ripped off!!! There were many who didn't particularly like Ken, but I'll tell you what he was the only man alive that was willing to fight for us, he was the only man alive that could have turned around the fortunes of this club. He took on the former owners, he took on the football league, he took on the media, he took on the property developers, he took on the local council.... he took the lot on and, after a long, long battle through the courts and the media.......... he WON !!!!!!

Some people make it out that if it hadn't been Bates it would have been another saviour, well, I'm sorry but they are wrong. If it was anyone else we would never have secured the rights to buy the freehold of the ground and the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme he came up with to ensure that, never again, could our home be taken away from us by unscrupulous owners, was pure genius. Back then Ken promised us we could be one of the top clubs in Europe and, along with every Tottenham, Man U, Liverpoo, Arsenal fan, we laughed and thought he was completely mad.

I'll hear, and sometimes accept, criticisms of Bates. He wasn't perfect, but by God he genuinely cared for this club. We must never let anyone forget that is one man we have to thank for the stadium we play in and the stars we watch and the fact that we have Chelsea FC to support. If it wasn't for him we'd probably be watching Crystal Park Rangers!

Thank you Ken Bates, the best owner we have ever had, and ever will have.

With thanks and acknowledgment to Chelsea_Dave

bang on the penny!

Myles, you young whipper-snapper you, I'll see your Upton Park 2003 and show you a Bolton away May 1983.......... how much have I won in that pot?

And while I'm here let me tell you about another club owner we once had.

Remember the days before Ken came along? When Brian Mears was Chairman, with Lord Chelsea, David Mears etc as Directors?

To have supported the club through those years was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone. We went from Cup Winners, (see, Myles, we did win things before Roman arrived), to a club crippled by debts, with every single player worth anything sold off for half his worth. We had one big East Stand next to the pitch with two wide open terraces at each end. We were a club in total mess. The average attendance was at its lowest ever and we had one foot in the old third division.

All that and without any Sky money or sponsorship, something that is overlooked far to often these days. Now you have a picture of what Chelsea was like then...... ahh but now take away the only thing that we could call our home, take away the ground and sell it off to property developers, Marler Estates. No money, no players, no ground, no prospects, and millions of pounds worth of debts. No chance of TV money and a club whose fans were about as popular as a fart in a lift. On top of all that the people who were in charge of the club were doing all they could to move us in with Crystal Palace so the developers could build flats on the pitch.

THIS, this is what Ken Bates took over. Forget the fact that he only paid a quid for it, plenty of people back then would have said he was ripped off!!! There were many who didn't particularly like Ken, but I'll tell you what he was the only man alive that was willing to fight for us, he was the only man alive that could have turned around the fortunes of this club. He took on the former owners, he took on the football league, he took on the media, he took on the property developers, he took on the local council.... he took the lot on and, after a long, long battle through the courts and the media.......... he WON !!!!!!

Some people make it out that if it hadn't been Bates it would have been another saviour, well, I'm sorry but they are wrong. If it was anyone else we would never have secured the rights to buy the freehold of the ground and the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme he came up with to ensure that, never again, could our home be taken away from us by unscrupulous owners, was pure genius. Back then Ken promised us we could be one of the top clubs in Europe and, along with every Tottenham, Man U, Liverpoo, Arsenal fan, we laughed and thought he was completely mad.

I'll hear, and sometimes accept, criticisms of Bates. He wasn't perfect, but by God he genuinely cared for this club. We must never let anyone forget that is one man we have to thank for the stadium we play in and the stars we watch and the fact that we have Chelsea FC to support. If it wasn't for him we'd probably be watching Crystal Park Rangers!

Thank you Ken Bates, the best owner we have ever had, and ever will have.

With thanks and acknowledgment to Chelsea_Dave

(in bold) - Thats the club I started supporting, because my dad took me as a kid and I didn't have a choice who I supported, I did it because 'my dad does'

Great post Just, I will also mention Bates listened to the fans, when Graham was mooted, he went for Gullit, and we won our fist FA cup for 30 years, and the first trophy of merit in my life-time supporting the club.

Then I wholly agree.

I did see a picture of a banner titled "Buck, Gourlay + Abramovich Out" and I apologise for not being able to provide a source for proof but you'll have to take my word for it

I haven't seen that one but there was this:

A few words on Gourlay. You would have thought we'd have learned out lesson with Peter Kenyon, but no we have to go and appoint a second ex-Man U exec as our Chief Executive.

Coincidentally, Gourlay and Kenyon both previously worked for Umbro. So Mr Abramovich, may I be so bold as to suggest that you get shot of Gourlay a.s.a.p, and that next time you appoint a Chief Exec you should take a lesson from history, avoiding ex-Man U and Umbro employees like the plague.

Much as I'm gratefull for Roman's financial input over the years, there's a few things that have botherd me about his ownership that have little to do with his cash injection.

Firstly, we've been led to belive that RA craves attacking football,he wants to be entertained plus also of course,the Champions league is a must win,'holy grail'.

Well,both managers who have delivered these have been sacked.

Where's the loyalty?.

The Ancelotti sacking,( in a side room of a scouse sh*thole) was a shamefull episode & is a black mark against the club management.The guy won us the league & cup double, something few clubs have achieved in football & the tossers in charge couldn't even wait until we'd returned to Cobham before sacking him.

The cack-handed way the club dealt with the Chelsea Pitch Owners was a disgrace,the guys (& ladies) are some of our most loyal supporters & the management treated them (& us) like proper mugs.

Where's the loyalty?.

Then, we come to Robbies sacking & the appointment of the ONE manager no Chelsea fan would ever except,words fail me to be honest.

Where's the fecking intelligence?.

Sorry Roman,thanks for your dough,but I simply don't trust you & think when it comes to football matters,you're f**king it up somewhat.

Delighted to see that so many don't adhere to this blinkered view of Roman as the infallible saviour. Yes, we should be IMMENSELY grateful for what he has done for us, but to me, our future looks perilous with him running the club in the way that he currently does. Roman simply has to loosen his grip on the football side of things, and give managers more time.

Thanks Roman for completely f*cking up our season. Thanks for creating a disconnect between our supporters and the club, the like of which I have never seen in 40 years of following Chelsea. I know you never saw it coming but your managerial merry-go-round was used with such alarming regularity it was always going to break down at some point. There is, I feel, some poetic justice in the fact that it has finally broken down with Benitez in charge, a man whom most of the fans despise and none have an affinity for.

You are reaping what you have sown on this one Roman. I hope it finally makes you reconsider your methods and decisions.

it could be argued we have won many trophies in spite of roman as much as because of him...there have been many poor decisions made over the last 10 years, but this is undoubtedly the biggest fcuk up I have seen any club, not just chelsea, make

My best mate over here is a spammer. For 9 seasons he's slagged Chelsea for Romans patronage - buying success etc. I've always fought back loyally backing the club I have been in love with since going to games for nearly 40 years, the club my father has proudly supported for over 50 years.

Romans cup wins have been great we all love success, but enough is enough - this style of ownership needs to change. Not calling for RA to go but he needs to change the way he runs the club. We are a laughing stock off the pitch and fast becoming a joke on it under FSW.

Will it change - I doubt it, that's why it's a total shyte situation currently, never I have not been bothered to watch a game.