The
property developer Nick Candy has promised to give Chelsea fans a seat on
its board if his bid to buy the Stamford Bridge club is successful.
Sky News has learnt that Mr Candy, 49, will make the proposal a central part
of his pitch to buy Chelsea, which he has supported since boyhood.
The London-based businessman is in talks with financiers about joining his
bid ahead of a deadline for offers at the end of this week.
Mr Candy is also offering to provide short-term funding to Chelsea - who
take on Newcastle live on Sky Sports Premier League on Super Sunday - if it
faces a cash crunch following the sanctioning of owner Roman Abramovich.
His offer would be subject to compliance with the strict conditions imposed
by the government as part of the licence granted last week that enables
Chelsea to continue operating.
Last season's Champions League winners have been thrown into disarray by
Russia's war on Ukraine, with Mr Abramovich initially proposing to place the
club in the care of its foundation and then formally putting it up for sale.
"I've supported Chelsea since I was the age of four," Mr Candy told Sky
Sports. "My dad was asked to play for Chelsea. I love Chelsea.
"I don't mind where it ends up, even if it's not with me, as long as it's in
safe hands.
"One hundred per cent [the fans need to be included in ownership] and they
should be involved. Both on the board and economically."
The proposal to offer Chelsea fans a board seat reflects a belief on Mr
Candy's part that supporters should have a meaningful say over the running
of one of the world's biggest clubs.
His pledge comes as the government prepares to respond to a review of
football governance published by Tracey Crouch, the former sports minister,
earlier this year.
Among Ms Crouch's central recommendations were for a 'golden share' in clubs
that would protect key aspects of their heritage.
A spokesperson for Nick Candy told Sky News on Sunday: "We welcome the news
that the sale of the club will be conducted quickly.
"This is a reassuring development for fans after a week of great
uncertainty.
"Mr Candy cares hugely about the future of the club and believes that the
fans and the community are central to its continued success.
"Should his bid be successful, Mr Candy would advocate for a fan
representative to join the board so supporters become part of the
decision-making process.
"If the club requires money to operate in the short term, Mr Candy would be
happy to help ensure it has the necessary financial resources, subject to
government approval."
Mr Candy, whose interest in buying Chelsea was revealed by Sky News last
weekend, plans to attend the home match against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge
on Sunday - which will be shown live on Sky Sports - the spokesperson added.
The field of prospective bidders for Chelsea has continued to grow even
since the government announced that Mr Abramovich was being sanctioned,
cutting off the club's principal source of financing over the last two
decades.
This weekend, Sky News revealed that Jonathan Goldstein, another
London-based property executive, had joined the consortium led by LA
Dodgers-backer Todd Boehly.
Sir Martin Broughton, the former British Airways and Liverpool FC chairman
and a lifelong Chelsea fan, is also in talks to enter the auction either in
partnership with another bidder or at the helm of his own consortium.
The many remaining questions about the sale of Chelsea now concern the price
that a buyer will have to pay, the destination of the proceeds and any role
that Mr Abramovich will have in determining the identity of whoever inherits
ownership of the club after nearly 20 years in his hands.
The Russian-born billionaire had slapped a £3bn price tag on the Stamford
Bridge outfit, with the net proceeds being donated to a charitable
foundation set up to benefit the victims of the war in Ukraine, but that
valuation is now seen as unlikely.
Last week, Chelsea sponsors such as Three UK, the mobile telecoms network,
and Hyundai, the Korean car-maker, suspended their association with the
club, which was banned from opening its retail outlets or selling new match
tickets to fans.
The licence restrictions were relaxed by the government this weekend,
meaning it can spend additional funds on fulfilling home matches and receive
broadcast income and prize money.
Bidders have been given several additional days to table offers, with a new
deadline of next Friday.
Sunday's game with Newcastle - now majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's
sovereign wealth fund - promises to be one of the most intriguing Premier
League fixtures for years, although largely for reasons of geopolitics
rather than football.
Raine, the US merchant bank running the auction of Chelsea, notified
prospective bidders on Friday that it and Chelsea had "coordinated with the
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and UK Government
Investments [UKGI] and will be moving forward with the sale process".
A rapid sale is seen as essential if Chelsea is to remain solvent and
therefore retain the nucleus of a playing squad which has become established
as one of Europe's most successful under Mr Abramovich's ownership.
The government has been clear that none of the proceeds from a takeover
could flow to Mr Abramovich.
Bidders were also told in the communication from Raine on Friday that the
"successful closing of the sale of Chelsea FC will require a special licence
to be approved by UKGI, approving both the source and use of funds".
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