GARY NEVILLE has warned that if Chelsea is to keep winning trophies, they would need'smart owners.'
On Friday, just as the deadline for bids had passed, Neville issued a strong caution to potential Chelsea buyers.
"The new ownership could set Chelsea back," he stated on Sky Sports, "because Roman Abramovich and the people he's had controlling the club have been excellent owners in terms of what they've done in terms of winning."
For the past 10-20 years, they've been a success machine. "That doesn't only come with money; we've seen that at Manchester United and Arsenal, where billions have been invested in the team but they haven't had the same success as Chelsea." Chelsea can rest easy knowing they'll have wealthy owners, but will they also have football-savvy owners? Because that's exactly who Abramovich is.
"For all of the discussion over the last few weeks, all of the punishments, and the nasty conclusion to his reign, he has been a really impressive football operator, and he probably doesn't get enough credit for it because the club is run by others."
"However, you can't take away the fact that he is the owner because he sets the tone."
Manchester United has spent a total of £903 million in the last ten seasons, more than any other side in the world, according to the Football Observatory.
They have won the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup once each since 2012.
Two community shields have also been won by them.
Local rivals Manchester City, on the other hand, have spent less but won more during that time.
Arsenal came in fifth place, with a net expenditure of £489.7 million.
They have won four FA Cups and two Community Shields in the last ten years.
Chelsea has won five Premier League crowns, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, three League Cups, and two Europa Leagues under Abramovich's ownership.
However, the club is poised to undergo some significant adjustments.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich was obliged to liquidate his holdings.
Nick Candy, a British property mogul, is rumoured to be one of the buyers, and he has big aspirations for the club's future.
"I don't think we should end up like Manchester United, where one affluent family owns Chelsea," Candy told SunSport, "and there should be a new benchmark of owning football teams."
Why does it have to be one wealthy family who the fans despise because they refuse to invest?"
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