by Chelsea supporters are further divided after warnings that protests against ownership are likely to end a slide towards “irreversible toxicity” in the stands.
In a letter sent to Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali this month, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust cited concerns about higher ticket prices, the cost of merchandise and travel to games, and a lack of communication from the board. The CST, who said Chelsea had “been a laughingstock on and off the pitch” since being bought by Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022, expressed anger and frustration at the perception that supporters are being used to steal income streams. meeting.
The low mood was reflected in recent games. Raheem Sterling was booed after struggling during Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Leicester City last Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach, and Boehly, the controlling co-owner, were abused during the recent 2-2 draw for Brentford.
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“In our view, current sentiment among Chelsea supporters is at its lowest level since the early 1980s,” the CST said. “While this might be expected with our current form and position in the league table, a significant number of supporters we speak to are quick to express concern that a lack of public vision from the new ownership is the cause. an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
“Supporters are saying that there seems to be a rapidly growing lack of confidence from many of the fans, particularly fans towards the board, partly because of very limited communication. Many supporters have significant concerns about the future of our club.
“The comments of a quiet few became a vocal representation of a larger number of Chelsea supporters present at the [Brentford] game. Much of our recent dialogue with supporters shows a lack of faith in the decision makers at the top of our club. Current sentiment among supporters is extremely low and cannot be ignored. The feeling that the club has become a ‘laughing stock’, on and off the pitch, is growing.
“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust regretfully believes that we are close to, if we have not already experienced, a significant change in supporter opinion which could lead to irreversible toxicity, almost regardless of the results on the pitch. If the situation does not improve, this seems likely to manifest itself in more targeted language, especially at televised games, and perhaps more organized, clearer and more effective forms of protest by some sections of the fan base.”
The Trust said that following the takeover the owners had indicated that they would explore all possible commercial avenues in an attempt to bring Chelsea’s income in line with other major Premier League clubs and that charge support as a last resort.
He claimed that this promise had been broken by several price increases and budget cuts. Examples cited included prices for coaches to away games rising by £53, replica kits £5, tickets to cup games £1-£13, boards under 50p, youth games £2, women’s games under “ record amounts”, and food and beverage in general admission areas at 5-15%.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will raise season ticket prices this summer. “Chelsea Supporters’ Trust acknowledges that you are looking to optimize revenue, but we are very concerned about future ticket pricing,” the CST said. He said many fans “fear they will be priced out of watching the club they love because of above-inflation rises”.
Complaints about a lack of fan engagement have been met with silence from Chelsea, who are 11th in the league despite spending more than £1bn on signings in the past two years, on their stadium redevelopment plans.
Chris Jurasek, chief executive of Chelsea, responded to CST on 20 March. “We appreciate the dedication, commitment and desire of all our supporters to continue to develop Chelsea FC into the most successful and respected club in the world, on and off the pitch,” he said. “Part of that goal will be achieved by working with our supporters. We want to ensure that we regularly engage with our supporters to provide them with clear lines of communication.
“With the establishment of the Fan Advisory Board, which liaises with the Club on a regular basis, we are confident that we have a lot of dialogue and an intention to work closely with a number of key stakeholders.
“Our goal is the same as yours: to ensure that Chelsea Football Club has a bright and successful future. In order to do this, it is necessary to increase the income of the clubs to bring us on par with our competitors and allow us to compete in the Premier League and the Women’s Super League, as well as domestic and European competitions. There are a number of ways we already do this and we will explore them further.
“We recognize that there are concerns about increased matchday costs and the impact that ticket prices may have on our supporters. Rest assured, we are taking frequent advice and consulting regularly with the Fan Advisory Board to ensure we take a holistic approach to this critical issue.”
Mark Meehan, chairman of the CST, criticized Jurasek for failing to respond to concerns raised in the original letter. “We are supporters, not customers,” Meehan said.
