Chelsea fans’ civil war as Advisory Board blast their own Supporters’ Trust for seeking ‘chaos and division through attacks’… after the group slammed Todd Boehly’s ownership for turning the club into a ‘laughing stock’
Chelsea’s Fan Advisory Board have criticised a scathing letter sent from the club’s Supporters’ Trust which criticised the club’s direction under its American ownership.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, a fan group with more than 85,000 followers on X, wrote to co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
Their letter claimed that the ‘current feeling amongst Chelsea supporters is at its lowest since the early 1980s’, declaring that the feeling the club ‘has become a “laughing stock”, both on and off the pitch, is growing.’
The group had warned support opinion was nearing ‘irreversible toxicity’ after fans were heard singing derogatory, expletive-laden chants about Boehly and boss Mauricio Pochettino during Chelsea’s draw with Brentford.
It was claimed that unless Chelsea improve their fan engagement, ‘this seems likely to manifest itself in more targeted chanting, especially at televised games.’
Chelsea’s Supporters Trust criticised Todd Boehly’s ownership in a letter published last week
A section of Blues supporters chanted against Boehly during their draw against Brentford
Chelsea’s Fan Advisory Board have responded to the letter, rejecting criticism that supporters have not been involved in decision making at the club.
‘Bluntly, we don’t recognise the suggestion that fans are not being involved in the future of the Club. This goes directly against our experience. So we wanted to set the record straight,’ the Fan Advisory Board statement read.
‘At Chelsea Football Club’s last main Board meeting (on March 11th), Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali directly (and in-person) asked the FAB to help shape the Club’s proposals in relation to ticketing and we have been working on exactly that. We have had multiple sessions with club executives to work through potential proposals and provided with data to help substantiate any potential changes.
‘So whilst the precise content of these meetings must remain confidential, until any decisions and changes can be communicated with supporters, the idea that fans are not involved and not at a decision making level, could not be further from the truth.
‘The club is aware that, while the FAB is constructive and understands the realities, we are also challenging. We make our views known forcefully. We achieve real change. We work and will continue to work on the relationship. We are helped by two other enhancements to fan engagement.’
The seven member Fan Advisory Board was established under Boehly and Clearlake Capital following their takeover of the club, with the move coming amid the fallout from the European Super League project.
The board is aimed at ensuring fan perspectives are heard at the highest level of the club on medium and long-term strategic issues, with meetings held three times a year with Chelsea FC board members.
Supporter advisors on the board include diversity and equality representatives on the Fans’ Forum and Chelsea Pride, as well as from unofficial supporters’ groups.
Chelsea’s Fan Advisory Board has hit back at the letter published by the Supporters’ Trust
The Fan Advisory Board insisted the club have allocated ‘significantly more resources have been allocated to fan liaison than at any point in the club’s history’, citing their supporter liaison department now has four full-time members of staff.
The board hit back at those seeking ‘chaos and division through attacks and campaigns’, despite their member Mark Meehan serving as the chairman of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust.
The statement added: ‘Chelsea’s men’s team is part way through a season with much to play for. We will soon return to Wembley. We want to rise up the table, with the European places in touching distances. We have exciting young players with real green shoots of improvement in the men’s first team following significant investment.
‘In addition, our Women’s team continues to thrive domestically and on the European stage in Emma Hayes’ final season.
‘Football is a matter of opinion and expressing emotion is part of that. But we have to get behind our team and make our contribution to victory rather than seek chaos and division through attacks and campaigns.
Tensions have emerged with Chelsea currently in the bottom half under Mauricio Pochettino
‘Every Chelsea fan (including the ownership group) is frustrated at setbacks or results that don’t go our way. But the team and the Club more broadly needs its supporters. The only people who benefit from Chelsea fans turning on Chelsea are fans of other clubs.’
The clash between the Fan Advisory Board and Supporters’ Trust comes amid a second season of turmoil under Chelsea’s American ownership despite over £1billion being spent on signings.
Chelsea are currently languishing in 11th in the Premier League, with Pochettino’s side 17 points off the Champions League places.
The Blues, however, have reached the FA Cup semi-finals and were beaten finalists in the Carabao Cup.
