By Matt Penn
JUST what London wants – one other £1billion bowl-shaped, soulless soccer stadium.
No offence to Spurs, as a result of theirs seems nice, however it’s not like that they had years of title-winning historical past to have a good time at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal moved on from Highbury a few years after their final Premier League title win in 2004, and to no avail, they have been chasing that glory ever since.
And the much less mentioned about West Ham’s transfer from Upton Park, the higher. The Olympic Stadium pales in significance to Upton Park, the place binoculars weren’t wanted to see the pitch from Row Z.
It is no secret Chelsea followers have change into disillusioned with the membership since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich two years in the past.
The sacking of two full-time managers in that point, a Twelfth-place end within the league, no European soccer, billions spent on Brazilian youngsters you’ve got by no means heard of and civil conflict between the homeowners have turned the membership right into a laughing inventory.
Looks as if the right time to revamp plans to depart Stamford Bridge, would not it?
In keeping with The Guardian, Chelsea are in talks to maneuver to a brand new 60,000-seater web site in Earl’s Court docket, one thing they’ve tried earlier than.
Chelsea are mentioned to have made plans for the Lillie Bridge depot web site as an space that might be developed in a transfer that might price a whole lot of thousands and thousands.
Overlook that a lot else nonetheless wants fixing on the pitch, that the outcomes are nonetheless not going the way in which they need to, that gamers nonetheless can not seem to click on on a constant foundation.
The homeowners, who’re mentioned to be trying to purchase one another out already, may not suppose it, and the seats may be a bit of rusty, however followers do worth custom.
The Bridge has been a spot supporters can name dwelling each different Saturday. It is uncooked, the stands are near the pitch, it has 4 sides, and most significantly, it is owned by the followers.
For any deal to undergo, Chelsea Pitch Homeowners (CPO), a bunch made up of over 14,000 followers, must approve a transfer away from the 42,000-seater stadium.
Then again, redvelopment of Stamford Bridge would see the group transfer away from the stadium for a lot of years, probably double the three years Tottenham spent at Wembley.
However why not overhaul every stand one-by-one? Each Liverpool and Fulham had stands refurbished and so they have been capable of keep put. There are additionally plans for Crystal Palace to do the identical.
If Boehly and Eghbali are so determined to place cash on the forefront of their decision-making, then go about it in a method which can appease followers.
Sadly, soccer is not actually about followers anymore, and it would be straightforward to say Chelsea will lose their soul in the event that they go away Stamford Bridge.
However you concern they have already got.
