Chelsea’s trustees are seeking to ascertain what their stewardship of the club will entail after Roman Abramovich takes a step back.
Meetings were held on Sunday between trustees of the club’s charitable foundation to determine their role going forward, following the Russian owner’s shock announcement over the weekend.
The transfer of control has been described by sources as a process that is expected to be completed within days.
The foundation is headed by chairman Bruce Buck and also includes Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes, executive director of anti-discrimination group Fare Piara Powar, Sebastian Coe, Paul Ramos, John Devine and Sir Hugh Robertson.
Decisions to be taken by the trustees are said to be significant, but issues relating to transfers and the future of manager Thomas Tuchel will be the remit of director Marina Granovskaia and technical and performance adviser Petr Cech.
Potential buyers could, in theory, now have to deal with the trustees – but they have already been made aware of Abramovich’s intention not to sell the club.
The Russian billionaire distanced himself from the running of the club on Saturday night amid growing tensions between the west and Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich is not among the oligarchs to be sanctioned by the UK in the wake of the attack, but sources say the decision was made to protect the club’s reputation.
In a statement he said: “During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities. I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.
“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans.”
Tuchel admitted the announcement had overshadowed preparations for the Carabao Cup Final with Liverpool, saying: “It was difficult, it was a distraction.
“We are watching the news and like other people we are concerned. We are also shocked by the situation in Ukraine.
“We are approaching this final, a big final, and we allowed ourselves to be sportsmen and to be football players, and we allowed ourselves to focus on this match of football and to a certain degree enjoy it.
“I know there are much more important things in the world than football but we are here to play a match of football and this is what the players deserve and the spectators as well.”
