Chelsea's first ever black player Paul Canoville has emerged as a key figure in the sale of the club
The billionaires who are battling to buy Chelsea from Russian oligarch Roman Abrmovich are clamouring for Canoville's support. Last Thursday Canoville, who made 109 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, was called in for an hour-long meeting at Stamford Bridge with controversial potential buyer Tom Ricketts.
Ricketts - who owns the Chicago Cubs - asked for the meeting as he attempted to calm Chelsea fans’ fears over racism and anti Muslim issues. He is in London trying to get the deal over the line.
Now Canoville is set to meet the other potential buyers in the coming days as the bids for Chelsea reach the final stage. Canoville said: “As the club's official ambassador on racism - I was grateful to be asked for my views on the sale. I was pleased to meet with Mr Ricketts and expressed my concerns over some of his family’s members ' public statements. “I was reassured by his response.
“But I also fully understand and appreciate the position of the Chelsea Supporters Trust who still have serious reservations. I am hoping to meet the other potential buyers in the coming days to have the same honest and frank conversations about their values and their commitment to diversity and community work. These are challenging times for all Chelsea fans and it’s critical that the club is sold to the right person.”
Canoville, who played for Chelsea between 1981 and 1986, met Ricketts alongside chairman Bruce Buck at Stamford Bridge last Thursday afternoon. Ricketts was taken into the Canoville Suite where he was shown some of the photos of Chelsea’s greatest ever black players.
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There were five people at the meeting including Canoville’s adviser Gary Trowsdale - founder of the “Spirit of the London” awards. Trowsdale told the Mirror: “These are very sensitive times but Paul gave Mr Ricketts a severe grilling about race and religious issues. But we were pleasantly surprised to find out about their community outreach work in Chicago and their pledge to do similar things in London.”
Ricketts’ father made inflammatory anti-Muslim comments 10 years ago where he is reported in 2012 to have said Muslims were "naturally my enemy." Tom Ricketts previously addressed the comments when he told the CST: “My family and I are very grateful to all the fans and supporters’ groups who took time to meet with us and share their passion and concerns for Chelsea Football Club. It’s clear you have nothing but the best interests of the club at heart.
“We have listened to all of your feedback – including from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust – and are grateful that the door is still open for us to demonstrate our commitment to working with fans to protect the club’s heritage. It is now up to us to redouble our efforts and clearly lay out a vision for our stewardship of the club with diversity and inclusion at its heart.”
