Chelsea in crisis as credit cards are frozen with rumours of back door deal to sell

Chelsea appear to be deep in trouble but it is hard to get away from the suspicion that the Tory Government will be doing everything possible to help the West London club. 

On Friday there were reports of the club’s banking facilities and credit cards being frozen by Barclays but below the surface it seems that every effort is being made to keep the club in business. 

The one aspect that can’t be manipulated is public opinion with Three suspending their short sponsorship and Nike reported to be reconsidering their 15-year kit deal. 

Without the unlimited overdraft provided by Roman Abramovich and with blue chip sponsors walking away the club becomes a very different prospect to potential buyers. 

Chelsea have sent Pat Nevin out with a violin to share sob stories about the tea-lady and long serving staff in the background of a club with a £28m monthly payroll to incredibly rich players with agents ready to pounce if wages aren’t paid. 

Across football there is already a backlash to the Abramovich connections, if the name Chelsea becomes toxic and associated with Putin and the Ukraine war any future without top sponsors will look very different to the last 20 years funded by Vladimir Putin’s secretive pal.