John Terry backs the True Blues consortium’s bid to secure a 10% stake in Chelsea: John Terry has stated that he is a member of The True Blues group, which is seeking to purchase a share in Chelsea from Roman Abramovich.
The 41-year-old former England defender and Stamford Bridge hero have thrown his support behind a fan-backed organization looking to buy a 10% stake in the club.
Terry, who made 717 appearances for Chelsea between 1998 and 2017, including five Premier League championships and the Champions League, is trying to preserve the club’s “history and tradition.”
Claire Rafferty, a former Chelsea Women’s defender, is also associated with The True Blues, who have made contact with Raine Group, the bank handling the club’s sale. Final bids were submitted on Friday and Terry has outlined his hope to be a “welcomed investor” in the new hierarchy.
On Twitter, he wrote: “Chelsea has been a huge part of my life over the past 22 years. As we enter a new era, I want to see the club’s history and tradition safeguarded by like-minded people who share our long-term objective of becoming the finest football club in the world and recognize the importance of our DNA.
“I know The True Blues coalition understands because I’ve met with them and heard what they’re about. They’re a group of lifetime Chelsea supporters and season ticket holders who have devised a plan that will complement and aid any chosen bidder in operating the club while also increasing fan participation and connection with the board.
“To safeguard our club, this new system is meant to be inclusive of all Chelsea fans. I appreciate the work and effort put in by the Chelsea Pitch Owners and the Chelsea Supporters Trust on this, and we hope to be accepted as investors into the Club’s new structure.”
As a new leadership structure evolves, the ambitious plan intends to place one member of The True Blues on the Chelsea board of directors. After purchasing the club in 2003, Abramovich owned it throughout the majority of Terry’s playing career.
However, in the following of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the oligarch was pressured to sell up, and he was sanctioned by the government for his links to Vladimir Putin.
Due to a unique sporting license, Chelsea has continued to function under severe constraints, and a number of groups have made offers to acquire ownership. Oakvale Capital, an investment firm, has backed the True Blues in their quest for a seat on the board of directors.
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While Terry stated in his statement that he had the backing of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST), the fan organization later clarified on Twitter that they have not yet backed any proposal.
They stated: “The CST has categorically stated that the greatest solution for supporters is for new owners to safeguard CFC’s tradition by offering fans a golden share. While we accept the consortium’s core goals, in theory, we are not sponsoring any specific proposal at this time.”
