For transparency: I am an affiliate member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust and a Chelsea Pitch Possessor Shareholder.

Whilst continuing on the Fulham Road alongside Chelsea fans on that celebrated Spring evening last April, there was an air of optimism amongst some that this would spark a radical change in English football.

The European Super League shook everyone in the football pyramid to their core. It challenged the fabric of the game nosotros had taken for granted and made supporters of the clubs involved question look inward.

The plummet of that plot, for which I witnessed whilst being doused in beer flight through the air, led to most all the six breakaway Premier League clubs being forced to retreat and ready avenues for better fan communication.

Although all of these can be sneered at cynically as merely lip-service and good PR, it left a telling mark over what that chaotic 48-hour period did to the relationship between its hierarchy and supporters.

Although the two events are not linked, it feels ironic that these conversations over the future of Chelsea's buying are being had once more, this time very forcefully given the current situation the club finds itself in.

The UK Government'south decision to sanction Roman Abramovich in its continuing response to Russian federation's invasion of Ukraine means that the club's financial future looks perilous.

With those sanctions and Chelsea every bit an asset frozen, the lodge cannot sell tickets, merchandise or act in the transfer marketplace. With sponsors pulling out, the fear of further repercussions and the one,400+ employees of Chelsea, the agony for a swift solution is clear.

The Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST) take been vocal well-nigh the need for fan involvement in the process since Abramovich decided to put Chelsea up for sale viii days before he was sanctioned.

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In a statement released last Fri, the CST supported the implementation of recommendations from Conservative MP Tracey Crouch'southward fan-led review that was in response to the Super League.

In the argument titled "Trust in Our Future", the CST listed, among other things, a golden share for fans to protect primal items of club heritage, a shadow board and continued support for the Chelsea Women, a continuation of Chelsea Foundation's community work and a guarantee of no further attempts to exit existing sporting structures without the engagement of key stakeholders.

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These words were followed past a direct letter to Crouch this Monday and, later the sanctions, stressed again that supporters must be involved in the ongoing impacts on the club and its global fan base.

What happens next is difficult to assume?

Simply what must happen if the Authorities takes control of the sale of Chelsea is the fan-led approach that dominated much of the post-Super League conversation.

Who those prospective new owners could be, the terms of that deal and implementing the CST recommendations have so ardently supported.

A lot of supporters, particularly those part of the Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), a non-profit organization that holds the freehold of Stamford Bridge, are also concerned over the potential of stadium redevelopment.

The CPO released a series of tweets on Wednesday inviting the idea of Stamford Span's redevelopment stating, "Nosotros remain committed to ensuring the long term future of football at Stamford Bridge and welcome any feasible political party that specifically includes a want to redevelop our ground in its proposal."

Like the Super League revealed for a brief period, the need to rethink the ownership model in English football probably feels no more pressing than Chelsea's concerning situation.

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