Report from The Times

"Roman Abramovich did not buy corporate boxes at Chelsea before the start of this season for the first time in almost a decade.

The Chelsea owner has spent between £1 million and £3 million on corporate hospitality boxes at Stamford Bridge every year since 2011 but did not do so last year.

Abramovich’s decision not to buy the boxes is revealed in a footnote in the accounts of Fordstam, Chelsea’s parent company, which have been lodged at Companies House."

Rest of the article is locked behind a paywall but I thought it was quite an interesting bit of information all the same. 

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Report from The Times

"Roman Abramovich did not buy corporate boxes at Chelsea before the start of this season for the first time in almost a decade.

The Chelsea owner has spent between £1 million and £3 million on corporate hospitality boxes at Stamford Bridge every year since 2011 but did not do so last year.

Abramovich’s decision not to buy the boxes is revealed in a footnote in the accounts of Fordstam, Chelsea’s parent company, which have been lodged at Companies House."

Rest of the article is locked behind a paywall but I thought it was quite an interesting bit of information all the same. 

Seems odd that he would even have to buy the boxes in the first place 

On 26/03/2019 at 18:30, Boston Blue said:

There's no reason Roman can't direct and manage this club from Russia, from Israel, or from wherever his yacht happened to be.  He just can't physically work in the UK.  So if things are not currently going to his liking, he can fix it or change it with a phone call, an e-mail, or a meeting at a location outside the UK.  

If he still has the passion for Chelsea, he can still make sure things get done to his liking.  If it seems like he has stepped away and left in Marina's hands, then he either is happy with the way things are going, or his priorities now lie elsewhere.

Or maybe he can't just fix everything with 2 phone calls? He did personally get involved with the signing of Sarri for example...Now it's only reasonable that the club wants to see where will we end up at the end of the season, securing the Pulisic signing was also done in advance since he is projected to be one of the best players in Europe in the future...
Otherwise what else is someone supposed to do at this point in time?

13 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Or maybe he can't just fix everything with 2 phone calls? He did personally get involved with the signing of Sarri for example...Now it's only reasonable that the club wants to see where will we end up at the end of the season, securing the Pulisic signing was also done in advance since he is projected to be one of the best players in Europe in the future...
Otherwise what else is someone supposed to do at this point in time?

So we should assume everything is fine, and Roman, while as involved and as passionate as ever, is happy with the way things are?  That he is happy with the club in 6th place, with performances that are producing inconsistent results while NOT delivering the scintillating, one-touch, Barcelona type football he craves, with a good possibility that there could be a second successive season without Champions League football, with fans unhappy yelling negative chants about his coach and style of play at home & away matches, and with a clear and obvious dis-interest that us resulting in more tickets being given up than at any time since he bought the club?

 

13 minutes ago, Boston Blue said:

So we should assume everything is fine, and Roman, while as involved and as passionate as ever, is happy with the way things are?  That he is happy with the club in 6th place, with performances that are producing inconsistent results while NOT delivering the scintillating, one-touch, Barcelona type football he craves, with a good possibility that there could be a second successive season without Champions League football, with fans unhappy yelling negative chants about his coach and style of play at home & away matches, and with a clear and obvious dis-interest that us resulting in more tickets being given up than at any time since he bought the club?

 

Efter everything that he has done to the club I don't think any of us can imagine how it is to be in his shoes right now, it's not really justified to act so self-entitled as a fan.

It's obvious that our squad is not good enough to compete for the league title and that it's all a work in progress now, Roman was very close to invest £500m in a new stadium right before his visa issue hit him, there are things that can be done when you have money and he does have it so it's up to him to see now...

He did want the club to play attractive football, that new project that started with Sarri can't be a reality just like that, he would need to invest £300m just like Man City did it, there is no other way around it, we have a few decent academy players that should be developed with the first time which would save the club some money.

This summer will be painful because of the transfer ban, maybe that was also known as a risk and that's why Pulisic was bought so much in advance who knows, but as soon as we can be active in the transfer market Roman will show his face and then we will know what's up, either way it's not his fault that things turned badly in the last 3 seasons.

Edited April 3, 20197 yr by Gol15

3 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Efter everything that he has done to the club I don't think any of us can imagine how it is to be in his shoes right now, it's not really justified to act so self-entitled as a fan.

It's obvious that our squad is not good enough to compete for the league title and that it's all a work in progress now, Roman was very close to invest £500m in a new stadium right before his visa issue hit him, there are things that can be done when you have money and he does have it so it's up to him to see now...

He did want the club to play attractive football, that new project that started with Sarri can't be a reality just like that, he would need to invest £300m just like Man City did it, there is no other way around it, we have a few decent academy players that should be developed with the first time which would save the club some money.

This summer will be painful because of the transfer ban, maybe that was also known as a risk and that's why Pulisic was bought so much in advance who knows, but as soon as we can be active in the transfer market Roman will show his face and then we will know what's up, either way it's not his fault that things turned badly in the last 3 seasons.

I mostly agree with you.  But the two highlighted parts are where I think it proves he hast stepped away from Chelsea.

If he truly believed Sarri was the guy to play attractive football, and he knew the squad wasn't good enough, he should have given Sarri more of the players he would have wanted.  He gave him one player:  Jorghino.  He took a further 6 months to give him Higuain on loan.  I realize he isn't going to invest and buy all at once, but he's barely helped Sarri get the type players to play the style he brought him to Chelsea for.

Roman still committed to Chelsea

I’m sure Bruce Buck has a better idea than most people to be honest. 

Petr Kellner will buy us and it will be absolutely brilliant.

8 hours ago, Munkworth said:

Roman still committed to Chelsea

I’m sure Bruce Buck has a better idea than most people to be honest. 

just helping you prove you point a bit

 

10 hours ago, Munkworth said:

Roman still committed to Chelsea

I’m sure Bruce Buck has a better idea than most people to be honest. 

CFC propaganda machine in full swing, Buck wouldn't say any different, Roman not been at a game all season, ground development put on hold, personally I reckon different.

I know, I know, The Daily Mail etc.... seems like a regurgitated article that doesn't really add any new info such as the names of the other interested parties. Plus the rumoured higher valuation of the club seems to be more of a "hands off" warning than anything else.

Chelsea targeted by three groups in £2.5bn race to buy club with US and Asian-based groups keen and Britain's richest man Jim Ratcliffe interested

• Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck recently said Roman Abramovich was committed 
• But it is understood Chelsea have held 'exploratory talks' with three parties 
• Jim Ratcliffe is interested but his valuation is well below the £2.5bn figure
• He would face considerable competition if he wanted to make a move for club 

By ALEX MILLER FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

PUBLISHED: 22:30, 13 April 2019 | UPDATED: 22:30, 13 April 2019

Chelsea have held talks with three interested parties over the potential £2.5billion sale of the club.

They are believed to have included US and Asian-based finance groups, while Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe has also expressed an interest, as first revealed by the Daily Mail last year.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck recently insisted owner Roman Abramovich was committed to the London club despite stopping attending games.

But The Mail on Sunday have learned that Chelsea officials have held what have been described as ‘exploratory talks’ with the three parties in recent weeks.

Abramovich is not believed to have attended any Chelsea games since being denied a visa in May 2018. The 53-year-old Russian billionaire subsequently sought Israeli citizenship, moving to Tel Aviv.

He has spent between £1m and £3m on corporate hospitality boxes at Stamford Bridge every year since 2011 but did not buy any before the start of this season for the first time in almost a decade.

Abramovich has continued to pump money into Chelsea, however, and the total debt owed to him by the parent company increased by £75m last year. It now stands at a total of £1.25bn, money he would want to recoup if the club were sold.

Leading football club acquisitions company, Oakwell Capital, said well respected US and Asian-based finance groups have emerged with a renewed interest in Premier League clubs, because many have posted healthy profits. Tottenham, Liverpool and Burnley are among clubs to have announced record profits recently.

Doug Harmer, director of Oakwell Capital, said: ‘There is a renewed interest in Premier League clubs from within the Asian and US investment communities. 

'While domestic television deals have plateaued, the international TV deals have gone up and are expected to continue to rise in the long term.

‘Reputable and well-regarded institutions can see potential for further growth at Premier League clubs.’

Ratcliffe was interested in buying the Stamford Bridge club, but his valuation is vastly below the £2.5bn valuation set by Abramovich.

Ratcliffe has reportedly turned his attentions to buying French outfit Nice, currently seventh in Ligue 1, and would face considerable competition to complete a deal for the Blues, who travel to title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday, should he return to the negotiating table.

Edited April 14, 20197 yr by fitz

The parent company owe Roman 1.25 Billion?

Thats a fair chunk of change.

I think that Roman will keep the club, but it seems that he's gonna be less involved from now on.

Hes pumped so much into this economy, not to mention jobs etc. As soon as relations turned sour with Russia, and it happened to be the same time as his visa renewal, the govt all of a sudden is playing hardball. Im almost certain had all of this not happened, he would still be at nearly every game.

I can honestly see him cash his chips in figuratively, why wouldn't his love for England her diminished, treated by the gov't like an unproven criminal, reckon he'll buy some top italian team tbh

6 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

I can honestly see him cash his chips in figuratively, why wouldn't his love for England her diminished, treated by the gov't like an unproven criminal, reckon he'll buy some top italian team tbh

I would expect him to put money into Israel in one form or another, after all they have welcome him when others have not.

Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe refuses to rule out future bid to buy the Blues

https://talksport.com/football/536276/sir-jim-ratcliffe-chelsea/

I hope he steps up and a deal can be made with RA. Nothing ever seems simple these days though.

3 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I hope he steps up and a deal can be made with RA. Nothing ever seems simple these days though.

Either he or Roman re-commits some time and attention to us.

I don't think Roman will be going balls out anymore but I think he's better than a United fan businessman who will probably prioritise profits over success.

2 hours ago, sonic90 said:

I don't think Roman will be going balls out anymore but I think he's better than a United fan businessman who will probably prioritise profits over success.

Radcliffe is more of a Chelsea fan than Roman was when he bought us. He's got an active interest in football and sport. I'm pretty certain he would do a significantly better job than Roman has done for the last 2-3 years. 

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich not interested in selling the club

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/11709826/chelsea-owner-roman-abramovich-not-interested-in-selling-the-club

Rumours of a Saudi consortium too. 

God help us if we get Americans.

12 hours ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

God help us if we get Americans.

That probably won't happen due to a US company needing to pay a former Putin 'associate' a large sum of money.