NICK CANDY has pledged to keep spending if he wins the race to buy Chelsea.
The London property developer made his Blue Football Consortium’s £2bn-plus offer for Roman Abramovich’s club before Friday night’s 9pm deadline.
Candy promised his “global consortium”, backed by cash from the USA, Europe and South Korean, was serious about delivering a “new model” of ownership.
He also vowed to put his fellow Blues fans “heart and centre” of the club, with a role in the board and decision-making process.
But for doubtful supporters questioning whether Candy would be willing to replicate the Abramovich approach which has brought 19 major trophies – plus two Charity Shields – in 19 years, he told SunSport: “On the pitch and in the transfer market, it’s simple – follow the model.
“It’s not failed us and it’s done really well.
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“The last 20 years have been brilliant on the pitch. We’ve played glorious football, won everything, and Roman has done an incredible job with his team.
“If I got hold of the club I wouldn’t change Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia.
“And if they want it to stay I would love them to stay. Why change something that is brilliant?
“But I don’t think we should end up like Manchester United where we have one rich family that owns Chelsea and there should be a new benchmark of owning football clubs.
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“Why does there have to be one rich family that the fans end up hating because they don’t invest?
“It should be a global consortium of the best-in-class in every part of the world.
“We have 100 million fans in China, over 80 million fans in India and over 70 million in southeast Asia.
“We have European and American fans so why doesn’t the consortium come from each continent? And that’s what I’ve tried to do with my bid.”
So far the only revealed backer of Candy’s bid is Korean financial company Hana, although he promised the identity of the other money man, including one “very wealthy” Brit and investors in US NBA and NFL franchises, would be revealed next week.
Other bidders include the Swiss-American consortium led by Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehley, a Saudi offer, the Ricketts family who own the Chicago Cubs and a group led by Martin Broughton and Lord Seb Coe.
Candy, though, said: “We have a chance with Chelsea to put the fans heart and centre of the club. There is no club without the fans.
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“In 100 years time there will still be fans whoever the owner is. We are just custodians of the club for a period of time – that is all we are.
“We can actually set the benchmark of how it is done, following the Tracey Crouch recommendations. We want to be the golden standard of how to do it.”
