Chelsea

[Rhoswolf]

What an irony, Abramovitch gets called out by MPs from all sides of the House today to be sanctioned, indeed Boris said he was included and yet tonight his team financed by dubious means is representing the EPL in the Champions League, time for direct action?

 

[WickedWolfie]

Daily Mail: Chelsea could go BUST if owner Roman Abramovich is hit with sanctions.

Chelsea could go BUST if owner Roman Abramovich is hit with sanctions

Premier League giants Chelsea could go bust if sanctions were imposed on owner Roman Abramovich and he claimed money owed to him, it was claimed tonight.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Personally l think that this is BS. If Abramovich was made subject of sanctions then Chelsea couldn't pay him anyway.

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

Never in a million years. Sadly

 

[Urko]

'But I suspect this government will not want to upset football fans as we have a populist government. I suspect Chelsea's legal team would be going through all the options.'

Personally I would call that a vote winner

 

[Peszkywolf]

Would love it to happen, despise them as much as Sandwell Town. The dodgy foreign money, loans at every club sucking up talent, history of racist fans.

 

[oldgolded]

Smug arrogant fans so far up their own backsides it's unbelievable. I know a few of them. Very condescending about my beloved club. Would love to see them brought down to earth a bit and forced to eat a bit of humble pie for a change.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Sounds like he might be giving them away before they get taken off him. Wonder what their balance sheet looks like without his backing?

 

[JadeWolf]

Just come on screen as breaking news.

 

[Kashmire Hawker]

Here is the statement just released:

During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities. I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans.

 

[Keyser Soze]

So he's handed over the 'stewardship and care' to the trustees Chelsea Charitable foundation... Sounds like he's getting out before pushed?

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

SSN reporting that he's giving stewardship of the Club to the Charitable Trustees. Not sure what exactly that means but could be interesting times ahead down Stamford Bridge.

 

[reanswolf]

SSN reporting that he's giving stewardship of the Club to the Charitable Trustees. Not sure what exactly that means but could be interesting times ahead down Stamford Bridge.

Hope Chelsea drop back down. Falsely high position for a good club in fairness, whose natural position nevertheless, is just above us, around half way up the Premiership. Not the big club in my eyes, that many feel they are.

 

[Jonzy54]

Feeling the heat then

 

[waggys left foot]

So he is still the owner .

Meanwhile Usmanov sponsors Evertons move to a new stadium and Bournemouth are owned by a Russian.

And Boris seems to be finally moving towards legislation to reveal ultimate owners of property in the UK.

 

[Boss Hogg]

And who are the charitable trustees, and who is the ultimate beneficiary ?

 

[kidder_wolf_II]

The Bournemouth owner is Russian too.

We can only hope the same things happen there as well

 

[JadeWolf]

Not quite sure what it actually means. Has he transferred his shares to someone else?

 

[Nige100]

I haven’t the foggiest what it means. Does it mean he will no longer put any funds in?

 

[hollo]

Someone go to the shed forum.

 

[Lycaon]

Just proves if you can’t stand the heat get out of the fire, he’ll suffer dogs abuse if he ever steps foot in this country again, certainly nailed his colours to the mast!

 

[waggys left foot]

Someone go to the shed forum.

They think it's a device to avoid sanctions and being asked whether he is still Putin's mate.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Someone go to the shed forum.

I had a look. I don't think they are any better informed. Someone did point to this interesting article though.

Russian Billionaire Jets, Superyachts Roam Free Amid Attack

For all the talk of sanctions on Russia and its elite, the status symbols of the billionaire class remain free to roam the skies and the seas.

www.bloomberg.com

I think they are hoping he's just distancing himself until the storm blows over. However I don't know what happens to the reported £1b he owes them (so much for FFP). If his assets are seized surely he can't just say, 'sorry I've just given it all away'?

 

[Scallywolf]

The Bournemouth owner is Russian too.

We can only hope the same things happen there as well

Arsenal have a very rich Russian guy helping to back them as well don’t they?

Alisher Usmanov I believe.

 

[Ned Stark]

They think it's a device to avoid sanctions and being asked whether he is still Putin's mate.

Unless he’s already been sanctioned

 

[jackdusty]

Let's hope China doesn't invade Taiwan then !!!!

 

[Kashmire Hawker]

There are 6 Trustees of The Chelsea Foundation including American Bill Buck, Chelsea Women's Manager in Emma Hayes MBE and former Faversham and Mid-Kent MP and current Chair of the British Olympic Association and Camelot (National Lottery operators), Sir Hugh Robertson.

That is a fair spread of experience round the table.

 

[ombyman]

Let's hope China doesn't invade Taiwan then !!!!

They are a bit more sneaky than a dull scale invasion

 

[waggys left foot]

Arsenal have a very rich Russian guy helping to back them as well don’t they?

Alisher Usmanov I believe.

Sold his shares to silent Stan and now sponsors Everton.

 

[Wednesbury Wolf]

Telly saying he's staying as the owner and they're still in debt to him personally to the tune of £1.5bn. Apparently he used to have daily policy chats on the phone from one of his yachts but this will now cease.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

There are 6 Trustees of The Chelsea Foundation including American Bill Buck, Chelsea Women's Manager in Emma Hayes MBE and former Faversham and Mid-Kent MP and current Chair of the British Olympic Association and Camelot (National Lottery operators), Sir Hugh Robertson.

That is a fair spread of experience round the table.

Oh yes. I think we're getting somewhere there. Bruce Buck, US lawyer who made his name buying up companies for the predecessor of Gazprom, which is basically how the property of the Russian people was sold off cheap to Abramovich and Berezovsky. The latter fell out with Putin and was found guilty in Russia of embezzlement and given asylum in the UK. Some suspicion Putin tried to have him bumped off. Sounds like a safe pair of hands.

 

[waggys left foot]

There are 6 Trustees of The Chelsea Foundation including American Bill Buck, Chelsea Women's Manager in Emma Hayes MBE and former Faversham and Mid-Kent MP and current Chair of the British Olympic Association and Camelot (National Lottery operators), Sir Hugh Robertson.

That is a fair spread of experience round the table.

And used to being told what to do by Abramovitch.

 

[Woodsetton Wolf]

I’ve just read that Abramavich will put Chelsea into trustees hands?

 

[Ponty]

If he is walking away I’d imagine he’s waking away knowing he’ll never see any of his billion pound loan but he knew that was the case whether he stayed or not. The loan was never going to be repaid in full, and him leaving might ensure the charitable trust can transfer the ownership to a new owner for nothing on the basis they pump money in. I don’t think the assumption that Chelsea are going to suffer as a result of this is correct.

 

[waggys left foot]

If he is walking away I’d imagine he’s waking away knowing he’ll never see any of his billion pound loan but he knew that was the case whether he stayed or not. The loan was never going to be repaid in full, and him leaving might ensure the charitable trust can transfer the ownership to a new owner for nothing on the basis they pump money in. I don’t think the assumption that Chelsea are going to suffer as a result of this is correct.

I very much doubt he is selling but future investment is in question.Let's see what they do in the next window.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I very much doubt he is selling but future investment is in question.Let's see what they do in the next window.

A new mystery investor - Abraham Romanovitch

 

[1972 i began]

I had a look. I don't think they are any better informed. Someone did point to this interesting article though.

Russian Billionaire Jets, Superyachts Roam Free Amid Attack

For all the talk of sanctions on Russia and its elite, the status symbols of the billionaire class remain free to roam the skies and the seas.

www.bloomberg.com

I think they are hoping he's just distancing himself until the storm blows over. However I don't know what happens to the reported £1b he owes them (so much for FFP). If his assets are seized surely he can't just say, 'sorry I've just given it all away'?

He's in for a long wait if he thinks it's just a storm.

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

I think he'll still manage things behind the scenes. I assume all the economic sanctions coming in will stop him being able to put money in or take money out of the club as I assume all his accounts are frozen? Having said that he would have been aware of this invasion some time back which would have given him time, with all the other oligarchs, to get their monies switched to new hidden accounts, different names, different companies. He'll be fine.

 

[waggys left foot]

Oh yes. I think we're getting somewhere there. Bill Buck, US lawyer who made his name buying up companies for the predecessor of Gazprom, which is basically how the property of the Russian people was sold off cheap to Abramovich and Berezovsky. The latter fell out with Putin and was found guilty in Russia of embezzlement and given asylum in the UK. Some suspicion Putin tried to have him bumped off. Sounds like a safe pair of hands.

Another trustee is Seb Coe former Tory mp and Samaranch favourite the former fascist head of the IOC.

Lord Coe leads tributes to Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch

The double gold medallist has praised the former IOC president, who has died in Barcelona aged 89, but not everyone was so enthusiastic

www.theguardian.com

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

He's in for a long wait if he thinks it's just a storm.

Well as far as I can see the whole 'charitable trust' think is a joke. The Chair is basically his man who will continue to do as he says. The club still owe him £1.5b and he hasn't sold, just asked someone else to 'look after the interests of the club'. So he has pretty much exactly as much control tomorrow as he had yesterday.

If the UK government decides his money is dirty via Putin and sanctions him then he has added protection of saying it's not his club. If nothing happens then he's lost nothing and eventually when the news moves on and political will weakens, or Putin finally gets what he deserves, then normal service is resumed.

 

[YouGottaRaulWithIt]

Sounds like he might be giving them away before they get taken off him. Wonder what their balance sheet looks like without his backing?

I don't see him giving anything away. He still retains ownership. This is an attempt to stop people taking it off him.
It might even have been agreed with the Government first. It would be embarrassing if he called in his 1.5bn loan and England's newly crowned World champions went bust.
No-one wants that to happen do they. By no-one I mean the Premiership, the tories, the people he has been giving donations to. But I don't think anyone here thinks this goes far enough. Personally hope to see them play non-league football next year.