Open Letter To Mr Abramovich

It won’t appear in any contract you might have signed but supporters are those who own the soul of the club. Those who, with their undying passion and devotion through thick and thin, have made Chelsea the successful entity you were attracted to buy in the first place.

I have supported Chelsea since before you were born. I used to stand on the West Terrace before the old West stand was built and then pulled down to make way for the new West Stand where you now sit with your friends. But however much you sit up there clenching your fist and smiling when Chelsea score there is no way you will be able to understand the deep feelings we have for our club. For it is our club. The team plays for us. Who else? Your terrible treatment of Claudio Ranieri is a case in point.

I won’t beat around the bush, we love him and we want him to stay. But you seem to be either driving him out or driving him crazy. How could you do it? What has he done to deserve it? Is this a Russian business method?

Although Claudio hasn’t been with us for that long I would describe him as a true Chelsea supporter. Perhaps we weren’t sure about him when he first arrived but he soon earned the respect and admiration not only of Chelsea supporters but almost everyone involved in the game including the media. Only an extraordinary individual could have managed such a feat. And he’s done well. Very well. Last year he got us into the Champions’ League without spending any money at all. This year we sit second in the table and in the semi-final of the Champions’ League. A better position than we have ever been in at this stage of the season. Great progress indeed. So why have you instructed Peter Kenyon to trawl the leagues of Europe in search of a successor when Claudio has proved himself to be one of the top coaches in Europe and a decent, philosophical, erudite, funny bloke to boot?

Why would Erikson be so much better? Cappello, Porto’s bloke, Martin O’Neil, David O’leary. Excuse me? David O’Leary? You must be joking. According to some reports there are ten names on your short list for a new Manager. Are you seriously trying to suggest there are ten Managers better than Ranieri? What exactly have you got against him? Or more to the point what has Kenyon got against him?

And why now? Why disrupt this year’s campaign just as we are on the verge of great success? No wonder Claudio made mistakes in Monaco. Who could live with such pressure and downright bad manners without going completely up the wall? Most of us believe he deserves great praise and if we don’t make it to the Champions’ League final you will be as much to blame as anyone else. It’s called shooting yourself in the foot Roman.

The money may be nice, but you must know that there are certain things you can’t buy. You can own the bricks and mortar. The stands, restaurants, health clubs, TV station, hotel and all the rest but however much money you may have, you will never be able to by the soul of this club.

Football is much more than just a business. So perhaps you’d mention to Peter Kenyon that we don’t give a stuff about being an international brand. What we want is a team that plays sexy football and turns us all on with its skill, beauty and excellence. And while you’re at it, tell him to apologise to Claudio for his churlishness and get him signed up long term before we lose him. We’d rather have Ranieri than Kenyon any day.

Best Wishes,

Peter Gilmour