Now is the time for an owner reset

IT’S no exaggeration to say that the events at Chelsea over the past few days have caused shockwaves across the football world. Blues owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government as part of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He is one of a number of oligarchs to be hit with sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans.

Among the consequences for Chelsea are that Abramovich’s attempts to sell the club have been halted and the club cannot sell further match tickets.

Although the European champions’ future is uncertain at present, there will be still many interested parties in taking over such a successful club.

However, there is a wider issue here and Abramovich’s woes have brought it out into the open – and that is who we want as owners of clubs in this country.

With billion pound television deals in the Premier League era, it’s no surprise that mega-rich businessmen – or even states – have been tempted to grab a slice of the pie.

Money is clearly a major attraction, but being part of the Premier League circus can also work for would-be owners in terms of prestige and profile.

Therefore, it is sometimes no great surprise if the people who want to get involved aren’t doing it for the right reasons. Yes, football clubs are businesses and need to be run properly, but they are much more than that.

In this country, football clubs are a huge part of their communities, they have a rich culture and heritage that needs to be protected from those eager to cash in or get involved for their own particular benefits.

If there can be a greater emphasis on fan-ownership, or at least greater involvement, then that would be a major plus for the game’s future. What better time to have a reset than now?