Terry backs Chelsea stadium proposal
Captain John Terry has come out in support of the Chelsea hierarchy’s bid to repurchase the Stamford Bridge freehold – a move the club hope will convince fans to support the proposal.
With opposition to the mooted buy-back seemingly growing, supporters’ favourite Terry told Chelsea’s website: “For us to go further, we might need to move, and we have to trust our owner.”
Terry is president of Chelsea Pitch Owners, the company which bought the Bridge freehold in 1993 after being set up to safeguard the club’s financial security and avoid ownership of the ground falling into the hands of property developers.
“I wouldn’t be coming out, speaking publicly and backing the club, if I didn’t believe in it.”
Should CPO’s shareholders sell their 15,000 shares to the club for the £10m they collectively paid for them, Blues owner Roman Abramovich would own a highly valuable piece of land, the sale of which would provide a significant amount towards the building of a new stadium elsewhere.
Many fans are sceptical and Trizia Fiorellino, chair of the Chelsea Supporters Group, recently told West London Sport she believed CPO’s 12,000 shareholders would almost exclusively vote ‘no’ to selling their ownership of the ground – and are going as far as to seek legal action to stop the Russian billionaire getting his way.
But Terry has called for CPO’s shareholders to trust Abramovich – and appeared to confirm what many already suspected: that Chelsea have reacted to QPR’s sudden determination to build a new stadium in the west London area, where potential sites are at a premium.
Terry said: “Obviously, I have great memories of Stamford Bridge. But what excites me is the thought of my kids, who are Chelsea through and through, being able to grow up watching the team play in a big stadium.
“We’re talking about the next generation of kids beyond that as well. It excites me because I know for sure that we can grow.
“It’s not hidden that other clubs throughout Europe have gone out and bought sites for big stadiums. And we are not the only club with a rich owner. There are others, including QPR locally, who are going to look to expand in west London as well.
“For us to go further, we might need to move, and we have to trust our owner. He has been amazing since he bought the club, along with our fans as well. No-one is saying it is going to be an immediate change but we need to be looking.
“We have to remember that London is a hotspot, west London especially, and big development companies can build substantial flats and penthouses here, and if we’re not putting our name in the hat for these sites, then without a doubt they’ll be snapped up by developers.”
Several supporters’ groups have united to try to convince shareholders of CPO to vote against the proposal.
The ‘Say No CPO’ campaign are planning to distribute 10,000 leaflets before this weekend’s match against Everton.
In return for the shares, Abramovich has offered incentives at any new stadium including exclusivity on season tickets, plus a guarantee that Chelsea would only relocate within a three-mile radius of the Bridge if they move before 2020.
It is rumoured that the club have sought information on a number of possible sites, including Earls Court and Battersea Nine Elms.
They have also been linked with a potentially viable plot of land in White City near the Loftus Road home of QPR, whose wealthy owners are also interested in the site.
Terry added: “I wouldn’t be coming out, speaking publicly and backing the club, if I didn’t believe in it. I could quite easily say nothing and let the club do their thing but I’ve been here for so long and I’ve spoken to the owner on numerous occasions.
“He is Chelsea mad and wants us to be in with the Barcelonas, the Man Uniteds, and we know that doesn’t happen overnight.
“All the fans who bought shares in Chelsea Pitch Owners have played a very important part in the history of the club. I am the president of CPO so I understand what it is about.
“If the club does decide to move then there are some sites in west London that spring to mind that are not too far and I don’t believe Roman ever wants to take us too far away.”
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