Chelsea takeover bid boosted by beer mogul who took brings ‘local expertise’

Chelsea bidder Tom Ricketts has bolstered his consortium with Indian baron Karan Bilimoria.

Lord Bilimoria, who is a Blues fan himself, has connections to west London having founded Cobra lager from his flat in Fulham 30 years ago. Lord Bilimoria, 60, would get a seat on the club’s board if the Rickett-led group is successful, with the deadline for offers set for tomorrow.

Lord Bilimoria said: “I founded Cobra beer just down the road from Stamford Bridge and have been a season ticket holder for many years. So when Tom Ricketts approached me to discuss a leading role in his bid group, there was no way I could refuse. Tom and the wider group have a proven track record of running successful sports teams and have a strong vision for both the club and the local community.”

Tom has put in a huge offer for the club, somewhere north of £3billion it is thought. Meanwhile, Ricketts said: “We have always been clear that having local expertise and perspectives on our bid is vital. And given Lord Bilimoria’s unparalleled credentials and his love for Chelsea, he’s the perfect addition to our team.”

The Ricketts family are one of the four remaining bidders for the Premier League club. LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Sebastian Coe, and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca are the other contenders to purchase Chelsea.

Do you think the Ricketts will be good owners for Chelsea? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Russian-Israeli oligarch Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale on March 2, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result of his alleged ties to war aggressor Vladimir Putin, the 55-year-old was sanctioned by the UK Government on March 10, meaning Chelsea were rendered inoperable as a functioning business.

However, the UK government granted them a special license to continue as a sports institution, though under certain restrictions. Abramovich is not allowed to profit from Chelsea's sale, as per current rules, but he’s pledged to write off the club's £1.5billion debt.

Source: Read Full Article