A Call to Action
These are unprecedented times for the future of our club. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) is doing all we can to ensure the views of our supporters are taken into consideration at all levels in the club and government.
We appreciate not all of our members live in the UK, but for those that do, it is vital that all members write to their local MP to ensure our feelings are known.
The more our MPs hear about the issues we face the better they will understand what they will be voting for.
The easiest way to do this is to go to this website.
There, you will be able to enter your postcode to find the name and contact details of your local politicians. Select your MP. You can then type in a message which will be sent directly to their email.
To help, we have prepared the following words you can copy and paste. (You can also download a Microsoft Word version ). Your MP’s name should automatically appear in the message box. Naturally, you are free to add your own words, but please be respectful.
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email asking you to confirm that you want it sent. You will need to action that email. It may take a short while before the email comes through but also, please check your junk/spam folder. In that email, there will be a link to click to send the email. Click the link, and your message will then get sent.
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Dear [LOCAL MP],
In November 2021, the Government published the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, written by Tracey Crouch MP. The report made a number of recommendations to improve governance in professional football, following the disastrously ill-advised attempts of 6 clubs to join a European Super League last year. The Government has not yet responded to the report indicating whether it will accept the recommendations.
I am writing to you as a member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST). Founded in 2012, the CST is a fully democratic, legally constituted supporter group, affiliated to the Football Supporters Association and regulated by the FCA. The CST represents the interests of Chelsea supporters with the club, the community, the media, and wider governance structures. We actively support initiatives to improve football governance across the game, and in particular to ensure that supporters’ views across the board are represented and listened to by those in power. We fully support the conclusions drawn in the Fan-led Review and believe their implementation across football will go some way to redressing the balance of power within English football.
I have noted with interest the recent developments at Chelsea Football Club, including the sanctioning of the current owner, and his stated intention to sell the club. My thoughts are with the appalling suffering of the Ukrainian people at the hands of Vladimir Putin. The feelings of football fans in the UK are nothing compared to what they are going through.
Nevertheless, this is an important moment for English football – football clubs are hugely important institutions with vital links to the local community and to people across the world. With that in mind, it is essential that the Government seek to resolve the situation of Chelsea FC’s ownership and operation as quickly and transparently as possible, to minimise the unease and uncertainty I and other Chelsea supporters will be feeling. The situation must be resolved with due consideration of supporters themselves – football without fans is nothing.
It is imperative that supporters have a stake in any sale of the club. Given the unique circumstances of the proposed sale of the club, I believe there is an opportunity here to demonstrate English football governance’s commitment to transparency and meaningful supporter input.
The CST Board published a statement on Friday 4th March calling for prospective buyers of Chelsea FC to engage with supporters at the earliest opportunity. The CST made the following 5 demands:
- The outstanding balance of the loan from the Club to Chelsea Pitch Owners should be forgiven, so that Stamford Bridge is secured by and for Chelsea’s supporters.
- The relevant recommendations of the Fan-led Review of Football Governance are implemented, namely:
a. A golden share for fans to protect key items of club heritage;
b. Consultation with supporters through the creation of a democratically elected shadow board;
c. Continued support for Chelsea FC Women. - A commitment from prospective owners to meet the CST at the earliest opportunity and to engage in regular, constructive dialogue with supporters on issues of supporter interest, including fair ticketing and stadium development.
- A commitment from prospective owners to continuing the legacy of the Chelsea Foundation’s community work.
- A guarantee that there will be no attempts to exit existing sporting structures without the engagement of key stakeholders, with supporters at the forefront – this includes the European Super League.
The CST believes there is a real opportunity here to demonstrate that UK and football authorities are serious about improving governance within English football.
As my local MP, I would welcome your support in asking the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to ensure that the current situation for Chelsea FC is resolved swiftly, transparently and with due regard to the lifeblood of the club – the supporters. I would also ask for your support in ensuring the Government demonstrates its support for improved football governance by accepting the recommendations of the Fan-led review.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
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