‘Chelsea owners are arrogant’ as fans stage furious protest – ‘these guys don’t care’
Chelsea have spent more than £1billion on new signings since chairman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover in 2022.
However, that spend has not correlated to success on the pitch – with the Blues struggling to break into the Champions League places in recent seasons.
Chelsea fans protested against their US private equity ownership with a big demonstration held before th win over Southampton last month.
Chelsea’s valuation has dropped over the past couple of years with the club no longer fighting for titles in England or Europe.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – hit out at “arrogance” in the boardroom at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea owners are ‘too remote’ from the fans, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness has insisted Boehly and Clearlake are “too remote from the fans” and “taking a very arrogant attitude” to their running of the club.
| Position | Club | Played | Points | GD |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 27 | 48 | +11 |
| 4 | Man City | 27 | 47 | +16 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 27 | 46 | +16 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 27 | 44 | +8 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 27 | 43 | +13 |
| 8 | Brighton | 27 | 43 | +5 |
This season, Enzo Maresca‘s side sit fifth in the Premier League – which is likely to be enough to secure a Champions League place.
Wyness insisted the Chelsea boardroom “won’t care about abuse” from fans.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Chelsea could reap some rewards next season, and I think the fan protests may die down if that happens.
“But certainly, they’ve been too remote from the fans in the way they’ve communicated.
“They’ve taken a very arrogant attitude to the way they’ve done things. That’s now coming home to roost with the fanbase.
“It’s those areas they should be looking at rather than selling and buying players.
“These guys don’t care about abuse, they’ve got thick skins and they are off on a private jet before anyone can get near them.
“I’m sure they are starting to feel the bond that happens with a football club. I’ve seen it before, owners who think they’re dispassionate – all of a sudden, they fall in love.
“I’m sure that’s starting to happen. If they can stabilise, move onto next season, and get things back to a common sense middle ground – it’s a good way forward.”
Finance expert shares Chelsea takeover verdict
Speaking on a potential takeover, finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it will be very hard to find a buyer that will be willing to bail Boehly and Clearlake out of the £3.5billion they have invested at Chelsea.
Speaking at The Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit on Thursday (27 February), Chelsea chairman Boehly insisted the club are “trending in the right direction” and criticism is “par for the course”.
The Blues are on course for European success in the Uefa Conference League this term and will take a 2-1 lead over FC Copenhagen to Stamford Bridge in the round of 16 second leg next week.
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