The Ricketts family have announced they will not lodge a final bid to buy Chelsea, leaving three bidders left standing in the takeover process.
The American family, who own Major League Baseball team Chicago Cubs, have been among the parties most interested in purchasing the Premier League outfit. Roman Abramovich announced his intention to sell as he became embroiled in Russia's war in Ukraine.
The Ricketts family had enjoyed success as owners of a sports franchise and excelled in redeveloping the Cubs' home stadium, Wrigley Field. A similar development project at Stamford Bridge was one of the key factors in a successful bid, which furthered their case, however, historic controversial emails surfaced showing views which caused plenty of issues with the Blues' fans.
Islamophobic emails from Joe Ricketts, the 80-year-old head of the family, surfaced and led to protests from the Chelsea fans. The Chelsea Supporters' Trust had insisted any new owner had to support inclusion and diversity and it became clear the divide was an issue.
A statement from the prospective owners, published today, reads: "The Ricketts-Griffin-Gilbert Group has decided, after careful consideration, not to submit a final bid for Chelsea F.C. In the process of finalising their proposal, it became increasingly clear that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics around the sales process. We have great admiration for Chelsea and its fans, and we wish the new owners well."
Joe's son Tom, who was driving the Chelsea bid had insisted that his father was not involved in the deal, but they have still opted to withdraw from the process. Fans have been using the hashtag #NoToRicketts on Twitter prior to the family pulling out.
Fellow American Todd Boehly, owner of the LA Dodgers, is another man leading a consortium looking to buy the Blues. He has previously seen a bid for Chelsea rejected but is, once again, looking to buy the club having spoken of his admiration for football in the past.
Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca has also thrown his name into the mix. He said this week: "It is imperative to clarify and assure supporters about our bid group and its commitments, to emphasise how seriously we take our potential responsibility to Chelsea.
“Ultimately, fans will see our commitment and, we hope, trust us to stay true to our values on and off the pitch. We understand the responsibilities that come with such an important sporting institution and hold ourselves accountable to the fans.
“Later this week, we will submit a substantial and credible bid proposal – one that we expect will meet the respective requirements and regulations of the Premier League, UK Government and UEFA – and we pledge to honour our commitment to credibility and good guardianship of Chelsea Football Club from day one.”
