Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton is "the right man to lead Chelsea Football Club into its next chapter", according to Lord Sebastian Coe.
Lord Coe is to be a part of Broughton's consortium that is bidding to take over Chelsea following the sanctions against Roman Abramovich as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Abramovich's historical ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The sanctions against Abramovich, who bankrolled Chelsea's rise to the top of English football after he took over in 2003, have hit the Stamford Bridge club and have cast serious doubt over the longer term future of the club if the sale of the club cannot be resolved swiftly. With Abramovich sanctioned and unable to profit from the sale of the club, it will be left in the hands of the UK Government to find an appropriate bidder.
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And there is heavy interest. US consortiums involving Chicago Cubs' owners the Ricketts family, London property tycoon Nick Candy and the Saudi Media Group are among those to have lodged bids for the club, with more expected in the coming days as the interest in acquiring one of the Premier League's biggest clubs intensifies.
One of those in the race is Broughton, who was chairman of Liverpool between April and December of 2010 and was a key figure in expediting the sale of the Reds from the ruinous ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett to John Henry and Tom Werner's New England Sports Ventures, since renamed Fenway Sports Group. It was one of the most tumultuous periods in Liverpool's history as the club sailed perilously close to administration, according to Broughton himself, and it is that role he played with Liverpool that Lord Coe, who the London 2012 Olympics chief, believes makes him the standout candidate to take on Chelsea in their current predicament.
In a statement to the Independent, Lord Coe said: "I am certain that Sir Martin is the right man to lead Chelsea Football Club into its next chapter. He has an exceptional track record in British business, as well as unrivalled experience in shepherding Liverpool out of a very difficult situation.
"He has the vision, acumen and financial backing to ensure our club’s future success, keeping Chelsea Football Club at the top of European football and challenging for trophies. But most importantly, like me, he is a lifelong Chelsea supporter and Shed End season-ticket holder. I know that this bid is for the millions of Chelsea fans around the world. We love our club and will always put the fans first."
Broughton, 74, was a key ally in the transition from Hicks and Gillett to FSG, a battle for power that went all the way to the High Court before it was resolved in favour of Henry and Werner et al, with Hicks and Gillett forced to sell the club for £300m, far less than they had been seeking, and something that they described as an "epic swindle".
Speaking in the programme notes prior to his departure in December of 2010, Broughton wrote: "It was always my stated intention to stand down once the sale was completed and I am happy that the club is now in good hands. This has been one of the most memorable experiences of my working life and would like to wish Liverpool and its supporters every success for the future.
"The last seven months have been a pleasure and a privilege for me to serve this fantastic sporting institution. Everybody associated with the club can now look forward to an exciting future with the right owners and the club on a secure financial footing. I am proud to have been chairman during this turbulent time.
"Liverpool FC will always have a special place in my heart as a result of the relationships I have forged over these past months."
In his career, businessman Broughton has served as British Airways chairman, president of the Confederation of British Industry and, more recently, chairing private investment firm Sports Investment Partners.
