Chelsea home rejig put owners in a quandary

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The Co-Controlling Owner and Chairman of the Premier League team Chelsea F.C. Todd Boehly says Chelsea’s owners could go their separate ways if they cannot agree on the future of the top-flight’s home – the Stamford Bridge in Fulham, London, England (UK).

‘sky sports’ stated that the Chelsea bosses is considering whether to leave Stamford Bridge or to expand with Earl’s Court (a district of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London) seen as a possible new location.

The Chelsea Football Club is a professional football club based in Fulham, West London, England (UK). Named after the neighboring area Chelsea they compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Founded in 1905 the team play their home games at the Stamford Bridge.

The Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London (UK). It is the home of the Premier League club Chelsea F.C. With a capacity of 40,173 it is the ninth largest venue of the 2024-2025 Premier League seasons and the 11th-largest football stadium in England.

‘sky sports’ further stated that all options are being evaluated with the project said to be complicated by the limited space in London to build.

Boehly has suggested plans over Chelsea’s stadium redevelopment could decide whether he stays in partnership with the majority owners Clearlake Capital.

Founded in 2006, Santa Monica (US)-based the Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach the firm seeks to partner with the experienced management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake’s operational improvement approach.

Stated Boehly, “We have to think long term about what we’re trying to accomplish. We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flesh out. That’s going to be where we’re either aligned or we ultimately decide to go different ways.”
 

Chelsea Ownership Pie:

• Clearlake Capital – 61.6%;
• Todd Boehly – 12.8%;
• Mark Walter (American businessman) – 12.8 %; and
• Hansjörg Wyss (Swiss billionaire businessman) – 12.8%.

 
The Clearlake Capital are understood to be fully behind making Chelsea’s new stadium project happen and committed to the club long-term.

A rift between Chelsea’s Co-Owners emerged at the beginning of this season with both parties said to have been keen to buy each other out.

Asked if he was closer to a decision over selling his stake in Chelsea, Boehly added, “I think the status quo is something that’s just fine. I think we’ve gotten what we’ve learned from each other. And, you know, I think we’re really going to be able to work it out any which way.”

In September it was reported that Boehly had been unhappy with the way the club is being run and that he did not want Mauricio Pochettino (Argentine football Manager) to lose his job as the Head Coach at the end of the last season.

But he insists those in charge at Chelsea are on the same page and pointed to the team’s position in the Premier League table as proof of their plan bearing fruit.

Concluded Boehly, “If you look at the evolution of the team we’ve been aligned on what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to build. It’s a team that’s young, it’s a team that’s got long contracts and all these things were new. To do all those things that we’ve done it’s obviously because we’re aligned. So I think if you look at what’s actually happening and don’t follow the shiny light then you’ll see that there’s core stability. We’re executing on a plan that ultimately will have Chelsea where it belongs. I mean we’re sitting top floor in the table right now.”

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