Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is leading the family’s bid to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich
(Picture: Getty Images)The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust have delivered a blow to the Ricketts family’s bid to buy the European champions after expressing concerns over their ability to run an “inclusive, successful club.”
It is the first time the Trust has publicly questioned the owners of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, who have faced a backlash from fans on social media.
A ‘NoToRicketts’ hashtag has been used to gather numbers in opposition to the Americans. The campaign relates to historic racist emails sent by the family’s patriarch, Joe Ricketts.
He is not involved in the bid to buy Chelsea and was condemned by members of his own family for the comments.
The Ricketts’ were on Friday waiting to learn if they have been shortlisted in the race to buy out Roman Abramovich alongside the likes of Sir Martin Broughton and Todd Boehly’s consortium.
But their chances have not been helped by the opposition of supporters. That was compounded by a statement from the Trust, which met with the family this week.
It read: “It is essential that the new owners of the club has the confidence of the supporter base and demonstrate an understanding of the values that we stand for.
“That is why the strength of feeling towards the Ricketts family bid from Chelsea supporters cannot and must not be ignored.
“The CST are grateful to the Ricketts family for meeting with us this week. We challenged them on all of the points supporters have raised concerns about.
The CST still has concerns about the ability of the Ricketts family to run an inclusive, successful club.
— Chelsea Supporters’ Trust⭐️⭐️ (@ChelseaSTrust) March 25, 2022
If they are unable to address these & gain confidence of supporters, we do not believe it would be in the best interests of our members for the bid to succeed.
Statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VquNCMsI3a
“However, our concerns about their ability to run an inclusive, successful club on behalf of our diverse supporter base around the world have not yet been allayed.
“It is for the Ricketts family to demonstrate how they will address supporter concerns – especially with regard to inclusivity, given both past and recent statements by members of the family, and they have not yet done that. They must do so publicly and they must do so urgently.
“If they are unable to do this and gain the confidence of Chelsea supporters, the CST Board does not believe it would be in the best interests of our members and Chelsea supporters for their bid to succeed.”
Tom Ricketts, who is leading the family’s bid for Chelsea, later said in his own statement: “My family and I are very grateful to all the fans and supporters’ groups who took time to meet with us this week 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.”
