Prospective Chelsea buyers The Ricketts Family are reportedly worried about the role of rival bidders in encouraging protests against their approach.
The Chelsea Supporters Trust had earlier issued a statement of concern about the group, who own the Chicago Cubs. Family patriarch Joe Ricketts, who is not part of the bidding group, was forced to apologise for historical Islamophobic comments uncovered in leaked emails.
Fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge before the Premier League game against Brentford to voice their own concerns in person. Some chanted "F*** off Tom Ricketts, you're not wanted here," in relation to the family member spearheading the bid, but the family themselves are believed to be worried about the tactics of their competitors.
According to ESPN, there are fears from "figures involved with the Ricketts family" that rival bidders have been encouraging protests like those seen before the Brentford defeat. The Ricketts Family are among several bidders still in the race after Raine Group - who are overseeing the sale - informed other suitors that their bids had not been successful.
"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," Tom Ricketts said in March after meeting with the CST. "It’s clear you have nothing but the best interests of the club at heart".
The supporters' trust itself, meanwhile, explained at the time there were still outstanding concerns. "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," they said.
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According to reports in The Times, rival bidders have been worried by perceived preferential treatment towards the Ricketts Family. The other three groups in the running include one headed by American businessman Todd Boehly, one involving Atalanta co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, and one led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
The remaining bidders have been given until April 11 to lay out their final bids as Roman Abramovich prepares to sell up. They have been told they need to commit to £1bn of future spending, while they need to also be committed to a future redevelopment of Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium.
Boehly, who was spotted at the stadium ahead of Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final game against Real Madrid, has previously gone into detail about his view on sports grounds. "If you look at what Americans are good at, it's been building lifestyle within stadiums," he told Bloomberg in 2019.
"Originally stadiums would be a place where you would go and then leave, just watch an event," Boehly explained. Now they’re starting to think about how do we entertain you earlier and how do we keep you longer. That obviously works on lots of levels — it drives the experience, it drives the economics and it also takes away from the congestion of arrival and departure.”
