10 Aug 2026 21:33:02
OK, so been out for my pre-season drinks with my ST mates. Every single one of them is understandably buzzing about the start of a new season under the Alonso leadership.
As usual, lots of so-called rumours and guesses about may or may not happen in the last few weeks of this transfer window.
The buzz is strong that we will still sell EF and the replacement is Wharton.
As I’m not a massive fan of Wharton, this does not make me that happy.
In recent times I have hated bringing this subject up because assumed that a FOS sponsor deal was more about maths or a plan but even though the majority of us liked the shirt without a sponsors logo, the owners and marketing team got absolutely slaughtered.
Bill, I guess that comes as no surprise. ??
10 Aug 2026 22:02:51
Tom, ED01 told us earlier that Enzo Fernandez is staying.
{Ed001's Note - only an opinion mate.}
10 Aug 2026 22:12:12
EbW, mate, it's just rumours, but the only thing I would say is, and I'm not particularly happy about it, but the guy is adamant we want Wharton. Having said that, I personally would marginally prefer Wharton over Scott.
10 Aug 2026 22:17:28
Sorry, just for those who are interested, the guy who says we want Wharton also said Alonso was a done deal, and he has backed Howe to be the manager at Everton.
I like people who back their judgement.
11 Aug 2026 07:21:07
Tom
Glad that your ST mates have the same view as me on the FOS situation.
To be honest im beginning to wonder if we have a commercial department any more.
I just think it's criminal the way we are throwing revenue away season after season.
And dont get me started on the SB so called project.
11 Aug 2026 08:09:04
The Athletic reporting this morning, EF staying at Chelsea.
11 Aug 2026 09:34:04
Tom, Enzo Fernandez is likely staying at Chelsea this coming season.
I think he is just the profile of player that Alonso likes and I can see him as the regista or trequartista.
11 Aug 2026 10:02:06
K, my mate has been saying for weeks that Wharton is likely to join us and my guess is he thinks that will definitely happen if EF leaves. It's all good fun and as I always say, I love the rumours but rarely the facts.
11 Aug 2026 10:09:30
Tom and Bill, it appears 3 clubs in the Premier League will go into the new season without FOS sponsorship, partly caused by the Premier League banning gambling firms from sponsorship. The Premier League also blocked a huge sponsorship deal Chelsea had lined up with Paramount Pictures, which seems rather ironic when it then charges Chelsea with breaking PSR rules, having denied the club circa £65 million per year!
As I understand it, Chelsea are deliberately turning down lower-value offers and holding out for a long-term, record-breaking front-of-shirt deal worth roughly £60 million to £65 million per year. The club's ownership and commercial hierarchy refuse to lock themselves into a lower multi-year benchmark that would leave them financially lagging behind rivals like Arsenal and Manchester City.
High Valuation Demands: The club's leadership is taking a hard line, targeting elite-tier rates (£60m-£65m annually) that match top European competitors.
Fear of a Locked-In Deficit: Accepting a lesser multi-year deal (such as £40m a year) would guarantee immediate income, but permanently lower their commercial valuation benchmark for years. Reliance on Short-Term Fixes: Rather than committing long-term at a discount, Chelsea has utilized temporary arrangements and shorter partnerships—such as with Infinite Athlete, Damac, and IFS—to bridge gaps. Calculated Financial Risk: Confidence in other revenue streams (like player trading, performance prizes, and rising retail/stadium income) allows management to comfortably play the long game.
They clearly have a strategic plan, and are incredibly wealthy business people who always look at the long game, which the majority of fans are unable to comprehend.
11 Aug 2026 10:38:34
Al, thanks for your post, and you may well be correct in your assessment.
Just one small thing. I personally believe the "majority" of fans could easily "comprehend" the strategy you have put forward.
The problem is, they think they are so clever, they can't be bothered to communicate with the Chelsea fan base.
The FAB is not fit for purpose, as highlighted by the mins of its last meeting.
I am not a fan of the match day demos, but I do agree with the one point they constantly make about non-existent club communication.
11 Aug 2026 14:02:23
Al,
Sometime back, I posted the issue with gambling firms having an up-and-coming ban.
Several of us were aware of it, so I am not sure the owners did not comprehend they would face a battle with other Premier League clubs, which meant that it is a buyers' market.
The way I look at it is that if our owners could not manage to obtain the price they wanted when we qualified for the Champions League, after also winning the CWC, when do they think they will be successful with their strategy?
I do take your point, though, on the Paramount deal that was stopped.
I also totally agree with Tom's point on the total lack of communication, and it makes you wonder if there is a plan by the owners, or are they completely at loggerheads with one another.
11 Aug 2026 14:26:07
Tom, I agree. I think most fans were able to comprehend what the club were up to. Unfortunately, it has backfired. No Champions League, an almighty scrap for CL places this season, and we are not going to win the title. It's a bit like a Victorian novel. A woman rejects proposals of marriage, waiting for Mr Right, without reflecting on what she's got to offer.
11 Aug 2026 14:50:51
My guess is there is more than one reason for no FOS sponsor, but I cannot understand why they do not at least outline the reasons to a loyal fanbase.
If it is true, and the owners believe the majority of fans couldn't comprehend its rationale, then, in my opinion, that is just condescending and arrogant.
11 Aug 2026 16:05:53
Spot on, Tom.
11 Aug 2026 17:37:16
Tom, or it could be just down to incompetence. Why would they believe that they could get a better deal than Man U, City, Arsenal, or Liverpool?
11 Aug 2026 18:12:01
Jimbo, I have no idea if it's incompetence. The owners can dress it up anyway they want, but just tell the loyal fans why we didn't get a FOS for the whole season when we qualified for the CL as World Club Champions.
If they couldn't get top dollar, then just tell us why not. Or, what they are trying to achieve.
I have no doubt the owners are clever men, but don't treat fans who are the fabric of the club like idiots.
11 Aug 2026 18:26:28
Tom, I doubt we will get any type of explanation.
11 Aug 2026 20:47:52
The owners only care about profit, Tom, and they don't care about the fanbase. They will never answer concerns from fans about FOS sponsorship or any other matter. They will be here, like the Glazers at Utd, until such time that they make the profit they want. Look at Liverpool. Geoff is now in on that lot, and only to make money. Chelsea FC is likely worth double what they paid for it, and will only get more profitable.
Clearlake is a hedgefund, and they will continue for many years. If we win a trophy, then great, but will they care about trivial matters (in their eyes) like corresponding with fans, where the oppo fans sit, FOS? No, of course not. The days of Gus Mears or Ken Bates or Roman are gone. Nothing will change it, so you are correct, they are arrogant, mate. And very, very rich.
11 Aug 2026 21:03:55
Al, the only time I recall Mears saying any was when we had to sell our best ever player to stay afloat.
Also, I do not recall RA saying a word, but his mouthpiece, Buck, occasionally went on CTV to tack questions.
I do not expect them to answer question after question, but they could just put out a statement.
Or, have a rolling Q&A on the website.
I have said this many times before, I am not a fan of funds owning football clubs. The problem is, I have no alternatives to them as owners, and any alternative could well be worse!!
11 Aug 2026 22:45:58
Tom, these are investors, not football people. They don't care about fans' feelings or FOS or where fans sit or FAB or the price of tickets. You called it correctly. They are horrible owners, and you are correct to slate them, but will it make a difference? Keep banging the drum, Tom, Bill and Jimbo, about how much you hate the owners, but will it change anything? We are ruined.
12 Aug 2026 06:08:42
Al, I do not hate our ownership. I do have issues, but I would probably have issues with most owners.
Let me also make it clear again: I am not asking for them to leave, as unlike a player or manager replacement, I do not know of any potential alternatives, and, anyway, any new owners might be worse.
I do want our current owners to treat their loyal fans with respect, and, on certain issues, to communicate with the people who support the club no matter what.
12 Aug 2026 08:09:23
Tom
We know the owners can't leave for 6 years minimum. Roman probably thought he was doing the right thing, but it is hindering us now with the current ownership.
12 Aug 2026 08:10:15
There is nothing we can do about owners: the Premier League is about money. The Bundesliga is fan-based. They have a 50+1 rule, whereby 51% of shares are owned by club members. Bayern Munich have returned profits for 27 consecutive seasons.
They do have private investors, Adidas, Audi and Allianz, all German companies, which make up 25% of the shares. They have paid off the debt for their new stadium 16 years early. A proper football club.
12 Aug 2026 08:24:29
Bill, I am aware of the contractual obligations, but I still believe that our current owners would find a way out if a good offer appears.
I was told ages ago that a major corporate tried to reach agreement with our current owners for a 25% stake.
Jimbo, I don't know enough about the German football club ownership model, but as a country it rarely sells any of its assets to foreign investors.