Finance guru: Chelsea have ‘£100m liability’ as authorities alerted
The new Chelsea owners are well prepared for any tax problems that might materialise as a result of the previous regime’s management.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about teething problems face by the Todd Boehly-fronted consortium.
The American billionaire and his business associates completed a £4.25billion takeover of Chelsea last month (28 May).
Per The Times last Friday (24 June), the new owners have told HMRC and the FA about an issue with the club’s tax affairs stemming from the Roman Abramovich era.
It is understood that the Boehly group held back £100million from the takeover price to deal with any unforeseen liabilities.
Plumley saluted the new Stanford Bridge hierarchy for their forward planning in setting aside the “liability” cash.
“We guessed when we saw that £100m side pot at the time that they knew of an issue that was there,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“It was either that or they were being really cautious. Having that cushion there will help with that. The reports that I have seen suggest that whatever the cost here, it will be a fraction of that £100m figure.
“So it looks like a good move in hindsight given this liability.”
The £4.25bn takeover price was made up of a £2.5bn base fee and a £1.75bn spending commitment.
Chairman Bruce Buck, director Marina Granoskia and performance adviser Petr Cech have all since exited the club.
In other news, Leeds United and Chelsea race to sign Brighton sensation Zak Sturge amid Thursday development.